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There is prevalence of overweight and obesity in South Africa. Evidence of nutrition knowledge and challenges affecting the promotion of nutrition interventions is needed to produce more effective strategies to prevent nutrition problems in school children. The study sought to explore challenges encountered by stakeholders of the school nutrition programme in promoting nutrition education. Furthermore, the study aimed to assess the implications of the stakeholders 'challenges on learners' dietary knowledge of excess fats and carbohydrates. The study took place in eight secondary schools in the Pinetown District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The qualitative data from nine interviewees who were stakeholders of the school nutrition programme were analysed using thematic content analysis. Quantitative data were collected from 108 grade 12 learners using selfadministered questionnaires. The quantitative data was coded, collated and analysed using SPSS. Independent sample t-test was used to evaluate if there was significant difference between gender and the mean values. One-way ANOVA was used to establish if there was any significant difference between the mean values of learners' knowledge on various nutrition principles. Learners displayed inadequate knowledge of a healthy diet (34%), the importance of vegetables in the diet (71%), the health risks of excess fats (64.8%) and excess carbohydrates (77.8%), and nutritious food to be eaten daily (40.7%). Comparison of group means of various nutrition principles using one way ANOVA indicated significant difference at p < 0.05 level [F(4, 528) = 43.3, P < 0.001]. The 44 male respondents had significantly higher scores for the awareness of health risks of excess fats t (103) = 2.6, p =0.01 and excess carbohydrates t (103) = 2.7, p =0.01 compared to 61 females. Each food group could be listed only by less than 22% of the participants. Challenges encountered in promoting nutrition education included time constraints, lack of training on nutrition principles, lack of supporting documents and lack of nutrition principles in the curriculum. The inadequate knowledge displayed by learners and lack of training and supporting documents in promoting nutrition education indicate areas that can be targeted by intervention programmes to improve nutrition knowledge of learners and stakeholders. Key words: nutrition knowledge, youth nutrition, nutrition interventions, mixed methods research, INTRODUCTION Nutrition education involves various educational strategies and environmental support aimed at acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviour that facilitate the adoption of healthful food choices and regular physical [...]

Objectives The effect of dietary cholesterol consumption on health effects and serum lipids remains controversial. This study aimed to examine the association of dietary cholesterol trajectories over 14 years in China with the risk of cardio-metabolic diseases and all-cause mortality and serum lipids. Methods This study used weighted longitudinal data of 8952 adults from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, and subgroup analyses included 5466 adults who provided blood samples. Latent class trajectory modelling was performed to examine cholesterol trajectories. Cox regression models and general linear regressions were performed to examine the association between trajectories and outcomes. Results Compared to the participants with persistently low dietary cholesterol intake, participants with gradually increasing cholesterol intake throughout adulthood were more likely to have hypertension (HR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.28) and to die due to all causes (HR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.57, 3.05). Moreover, participants with persistently high cholesterol intake were more likely to die due to all causes (HR = 2.26, 95% CI 1.47, 3.47). The total cholesterol (TC):HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) in these two groups were also significantly elevated compared to the group with persistently low dietary cholesterol intake (all P < 0.05). An association between trajectories of cholesterol and the incidence of diabetes was also observed; however, such an association became non significant after additional adjustment for other nutrients, food consumption and social environment. Conclusions Gradually increasing or persistently high cholesterol consumption throughout adulthood was significantly associated with an increased risk of hypertension and all-cause mortality with elevated serum lipids., Author(s): Wanying Hou [sup.1] , Xinyang Yu [sup.2] , Xiaoxin Fan [sup.1] , Zehui Jiang [sup.1] , Imranullah Shah [sup.1] , Yuan Zhang [sup.1] , Hongyin Li [sup.1] , Yu [...]

Diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) synthesizes triacylglycerides and is required for dietary fat absorption and fat storage in humans.sup.1. DGAT1 belongs to the membrane-bound O-acyltransferase (MBOAT) superfamily, members of which are found in all kingdoms of life and are involved in the acylation of lipids and proteins.sup.2,3. How human DGAT1 and other mammalian members of the MBOAT family recognize their substrates and catalyse their reactions is unknown. The absence of three-dimensional structures also hampers rational targeting of DGAT1 for therapeutic purposes. Here we present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of human DGAT1 in complex with an oleoyl-CoA substrate. Each DGAT1 protomer has nine transmembrane helices, eight of which form a conserved structural fold that we name the MBOAT fold. The MBOAT fold in DGAT1 forms a hollow chamber in the membrane that encloses highly conserved catalytic residues. The chamber has separate entrances for each of the two substrates, fatty acyl-CoA and diacylglycerol. DGAT1 can exist as either a homodimer or a homotetramer and the two forms have similar enzymatic activity. The N terminus of DGAT1 interacts with the neighbouring protomer and these interactions are required for enzymatic activity. The structure of human diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1, a membrane protein that synthesizes triacylglycerides, is solved with cryo-electron microscopy, providing insight into its function and mechanism of enzymatic activity., Author(s): Lie Wang [sup.1] , Hongwu Qian [sup.2] , Yin Nian [sup.1] [sup.4] , Yimo Han [sup.2] [sup.5] , Zhenning Ren [sup.1] , Hanzhi Zhang [sup.1] , Liya Hu [sup.1] [...]

Background The role of fat quantity and quality in type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevention is controversial. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the associations between intake of dietary fat and fatty acids and T2D, and to evaluate the certainty of evidence. Methods and findings We systematically searched PubMed and Web of Science through 28 October 2019 for prospective observational studies in adults on the associations between intake of dietary fat and fatty acids and T2D incidence. The systematic literature search and data extraction were conducted independently by 2 researchers. We conducted linear and nonlinear random effects dose-response meta-analyses, calculated summary relative risks (SRRs) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), and assessed the certainty of evidence. In total, 15,070 publications were identified in the literature search after the removal of duplicates. Out of the 180 articles screened in full text, 23 studies (19 cohorts) met our inclusion criteria, with 11 studies (6 cohorts) conducted in the US, 7 studies (7 cohorts) in Europe, 4 studies (5 cohorts) in Asia, and 1 study (1 cohort) in Australia. We mainly observed no or weak linear associations between dietary fats and fatty acids and T2D incidence. In nonlinear dose-response meta-analyses, the protective association for vegetable fat and T2D was steeper at lower levels up to 13 g/d (SRR [95% CI]: 0.81 [0.76; 0.88], p.sub.nonlinearity = 0.012, n = 5 studies) than at higher levels. Saturated fatty acids showed an apparent protective association above intakes around 17 g/d with T2D (SRR [95% CI]: 0.95 [0.90; 1.00], p.sub.nonlinearity = 0.028, n = 11). There was a nonsignificant association of a decrease in T2D incidence for polyunsaturated fatty acid intakes up to 5 g/d (SRR [95% CI]: 0.96 [0.91; 1.01], p.sub.nonlinearity = 0.023, n = 8), and for alpha-linolenic acid consumption up to 560 mg/d (SRR [95% CI]: 0.95 [0.90; 1.00], p.sub.nonlinearity = 0.014, n = 11), after which the curve rose slightly, remaining close to no association. The association for long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and T2D was approximately linear for intakes up to 270 mg/d (SRR [95% CI]: 1.10 [1.06; 1.15], p.sub.nonlinearity < 0.001, n = 16), with a flattening curve thereafter. Certainty of evidence was very low to moderate. Limitations of the study are the high unexplained inconsistency between studies, the measurement of intake of dietary fats and fatty acids via self-report on a food group level, which is likely to lead to measurement errors, and the possible influence of unmeasured confounders on the findings. Conclusions There was no association between total fat intake and the incidence of T2D. However, for specific fats and fatty acids, dose-response curves provided insights for significant associations with T2D. In particular, a high intake of vegetable fat was inversely associated with T2D incidence. Thus, a diet including vegetable fat rather than animal fat might be beneficial regarding T2D prevention., Author(s): Manuela Neuenschwander 1,2, Janett Barbaresko 1, Claudia R. Pischke 3, Nadine Iser 1, Julia Beckhaus 1, Lukas Schwingshackl 4, Sabrina Schlesinger 1,2,* Introduction Diabetes mellitus is a global health [...]

Background/Objectives: Few studies have examined the factors explaining the variability in fat and carbohydrate intake during infancy. We aimed to describe infants' fat and carbohydrate intake and analyse the associations with infant and maternal characteristics and feeding practices. Subjects/Methods: This study included 1275 infants aged 8 months from the French EDEN mother-child cohort. Carbohydrate intake, fat intake, added fat (vegetable oils and animal fats) and added sugar (honey, white sugar, brown sugar, jam and sweetened beverages) consumption were calculated at 8 and 12 months. Associations between these variables and infant and maternal characteristics as well as maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy, breast-feeding duration and age at complementary feeding introduction were analysed using multivariable linear and logistic regressions. Results: Less than 5% of non-breast-fed infants reached the recommendation of consuming at least 40% of total energy from fat, whereas more than 95% of them reached 45% of energy from carbohydrates. Overall, infant and maternal characteristics and maternal diet during pregnancy were marginally associated with both carbohydrate/added sugar and fat/added fat intake. Nevertheless, age at complementary feeding introduction was associated with all outcomes. Conclusions: Our results suggest that only a small proportion of non-breast-fed infants at 8 and 12 months reached the recommendations for fat intake, whereas a majority of them reached the recommendations for carbohydrate intake. As subgroups of infants with a higher risk of inadequate diet were not identified, the present results call for an improved dissemination of information regarding infant-specific dietary fat needs in the entire population., Author(s): W L Yuan [sup.1] [sup.2] , S Nicklaus [sup.1] , S Lioret [sup.2] [sup.3] , C Lange [sup.1] , A Forhan [sup.2] [sup.3] , B Heude [sup.2] [sup.3] , [...]

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study explored interactions between dietary fat intake and the tumor necrosis factor- α gene (TNFA) -238G>A polymorphism (rs361525) on adiposity and serum lipid concentrations in apparently healthy premenopausal black and white South African (SA) women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Normal-weight (N = 107) and obese (N = 120) black, and normal-weight (N = 89) and obese (N = 62) white SA women underwent measurements of body composition, fasting lipids and dietary intake, and were genotyped for the -238 G>A polymorphism. RESULTS: Black women had a higher -238 GA genotype frequency than white women (P CONCLUSIONS: The -238G>A polymorphism was associated with body fatness in black women. Interactions between -238G>A genotypes and dietary fat intake on serum lipids and adiposity differed depending on dietary fat intake, but those for serum lipids were not the same in black and white SA women. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2012) 66, 1295-1302; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2012.156; published online 17 October 2012 Keywords: TNFA polymorphisms; dietary fat; obesity; serum lipids 1% -- -- -- -- -- -- --, INTRODUCTION Studies from our laboratory, (1) and others (1-3) have shown that dietary fat intake modifies the relationship between the tumor necrosis factor-α gene (TNFA) -308G>A polymorphism (rs1800629) and adiposity, [...]

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The effect of changing one aspect of diet needs to be considered within the context of total diet. The study aim was to evaluate the changes in children's overall food intake following replacement of regular-fat with reduced-fat dairy foods. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Secondary analysis of a cluster Randomized Controlled Trial where families were received parental behavioral nutrition education to change to reduced-fat dairy foods (intervention) or reduce screen time (comparison control). Food intake was assessed via multiple 24-h recalls at baseline, week 12 (end of the intervention) and week 24. Participants were parents and their children (4-13 years, N = 145) who were regular-fat dairy food consumers. The intervention effect was based on mixed model analysis adjusted for covariates, and baseline food intake. RESULTS: At week 24, total dairy servings per day were similar between groups and servings of reduced-fat dairy foods were higher in the intervention group (0.8 servings per day 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5-1.1, P Keywords: child;dairy;food intake, INTRODUCTION Promotion of reduced-fat dairy foods is common in interventions to lower children's saturated fat intake. (1-5) Studies in adults also suggest that dairy foods may have a role in [...]

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We examined the associations between carbohydrate substitutions (total; low-, medium-, high-glycemic index (GI) carbohydrates) for fat or protein and risk of type 2 diabetes. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The cohort comprised 25 943 male smokers among whom 1098 diabetes cases were identified from a national register during a 12-year follow-up. Diet was assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire. The relative risks (RR) and confidence intervals (CI) for diabetes were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard modeling, and multivariate nutrient density models were applied to examine the associations between substitutions of macronutrients and diabetes risk. RESULTS: The risk of diabetes was lower when fat or protein was replaced with an isoenergetic amount (2% of energy intake) of carbohydrates, the multivariate RRs were 0.96 (95% CI: 0.94, 0.99) and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.80, 0.90), respectively. The lower risks were due to replacing saturated plus trans fatty acids, and meat, milk or plant protein with carbohydrates, respectively. Low-, medium- or high-GI carbohydrates did not associate with lower diabetes risk when replacing fat or fatty acids, except when total fat was replaced with medium-GI carbohydrates. Low-, medium- and high-GI carbohydrates had similar inverse associations with diabetes risk when they replaced total, meat or milk protein. CONCLUSION: Higher carbohydrate intake at the expense of fat, attributable to trans and saturated fatty acids, or protein was associated with decreased diabetes risk. Replacing fat or protein with lower-GI carbohydrates was not more beneficial than replacing it with higher-GI carbohydrates. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2012) 66, 716-721; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2012.24; published online 29 February 2012 Keywords: carbohydrates; fats; glycemic index; proteins; type 2 diabetes, INTRODUCTION Several large prospective cohort studies have assessed the association of carbohydrate intake and risk of type 2 diabetes. Many of the studies reported no association (1-6) and some recent [...]

The objective of this study was to assess the response of a large animal model to high dietary fat and fructose (HFFD). Three different metabolic assessments were performed during 13 wk of feeding an HFFD (n = 10) or chow control (CTR, n = 4) diet: oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs; baseline, 4 and 8 wk), hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps (HIEGs; baseline and 10 wk) and hyperinsulinemic-hyperglycemic clamps (HIHGs, 13 wk). The [DELTA]AUC for glucose during the OGTTs more than doubled after 4 and 8 wk of HFFD feeding, and the average glucose infusion rate required to maintain euglycemia during the HIEG clamps decreased by [approximately equal to]30% after 10 wk of HFFD feeding. These changes did not occur in the CTR group. The HIHG clamps included experimental periods 1 (P1, 0-90 min) and 2 (P2, 90-180 min). During P1, somatostatin, basal intraportal glucagon, 4 x basal intraportal insulin, and peripheral glucose (to double the hepatic glucose load) were infused; during P2, glucose was also infused intraportally (4.0 mg x [kg.sup.-1] x [min.sup.-1]). Net hepatic glucose uptake during P1 and P2 was -0.4 [+ or -] 0.1 [output] and 0.2 [+ or -] 0.8 mg x [kg.sup.-1] x [min.sup.-1] in the HFFD group, respectively, and 1.8 [+ or -] 0.8 and 3.5 [+ or -] 1.0 mg x [kg.sup.-1] x [min.sup.-1] in the CTR group, respectively (P < 0.05 vs. HFFD during P1 and P2). Glycogen synthesis through the direct pathway was 0.5 [+ or -] 0.2 and 1.5 [+ or -] 0.4 mg x [kg.sup.-1] x [min.sup.-1] in the HFFD and CTR groups, respectively (P < 0.05 vs. HFFD). In conclusion, chronic consumption of an HFFD diminished the sensitivity of the liver to hormonal and glycemic cues and resulted in a marked impairment in NHGU and glycogen synthesis. impaired glucose tolerance; glycogen synthesis; hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp; hyperinsulinemic hyperglycemic clamp; portal signal doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00372.2010.

Dietary fat intake plays a critical role in the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study addressed the hypothesis that dietary fat quantity and quality may differentially modulate postprandial lipoprotein metabolism in MetS patients. A multicenter, parallel, randomized, controlled trial conducted within the LIPGENE study randomly assigned MetS patients to 1 of 4 diets: high-SFA [HSFA; 38% energy (E) from fat, 16% E as SFA], high-monounsaturated fatty acid [HMUFA; 38% E from fat, 20% E as MUFA], and 2 low-fat, high-complex carbohydrate [LFHCC; 28% E from fat] diets supplemented with 1.24 g/d of long-chain (LC) (n-3) PUFA (ratio 1.4 eicosapentaenoic acid:1 docosahexaenoic acid) or placebo (1.24 g/d of high-oleic sunflower-seed oil) for 12 wk each. A fat challenge with the same fat composition as the diets was conducted pre- and postintervention. Postprandial total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein (apo) B, apo .B-48, apo A-I, LDL- cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and cholesterol, TG, retinyl palmitate, and apo B in TG-rich lipoproteins (TRL; large and small) were determined pre- and postintervention. Postintervention, postprandial TG (P < 0.001) and large TRL-TG (P = 0.009) clearance began earlier and was faster in the HM UFA group compared with the HSFA and LFHCC groups. The LFHCC (n-3) group had a lower postprandial TG concentration (P< 0.001 ) than the other diet groups. Consuming the LFHCC diet increased the TG (P = 0.04), large TRL-TG (P = 0.01 ), TRL-cholesterol (P < 0.001 ), TRL-retinyl palmitate (P = 0.001 ), and TRL-apo B (P = 0.002) area under the curve compared with preintervention values. In contrast, long-term ingestion of the LFHCC (n-3) diet did not augment postprandial TG and TRL metabolism. In conclusion, postprandial abnormalities associated with MetS can be attenuated with LFHCC (n-3) and HMUFA diets. The adverse postprandial TG-raising effects of long-term LFHCC diets may be avoided by concomitant LC (n-3) PUFA supplementation to weight-stable MetS patients. J. Nutr. 140:1595-1601,2010. doi: 10.3945/jn.109.120816.

Impaired myocardial contractile function is a hallmark of heart failure (HF), which may present under resting conditions and/or during physiological stress. Previous studies have reported that high fat feeding in mild to moderate HF/left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is associated with improved contractile function at baseline. The goal of this study was to determine whether myocardial function is compromised in response to physiological stress and to evaluate the global gene expression profile of rats fed high dietary fat after infarction. Male Wistar rats underwent ligation or sham surgery and were fed normal chow (NC; 10% kcal fat; Sham + NC and HF + NC groups) or high-fat chow (SAT; 60% kcal saturated fat; Sham + SAT and HF + SAT groups) for 8 wk. Myocardial contractile function was assessed using a Millar pressure-volume conductance catheter at baseline and during inferior vena caval occlusions and dobutamine stress. Steady-state indexes of systolic function, LV + dP/[dt.sub.max] stroke work, and maximal power were increased in the HF + SAT group versus the HF + NC group and reduced in the HF + NC group versus the Sham + NC group. Preload recruitable measures of contractility were decreased in HF + NC group but not in the HF + SAT group. [beta]-Adrenergic responsiveness [change in LV +dP/[dt.sub.max] and change in cardiac output with dobutamine (0-10 [micro]g x [kg.sup.-1] x [min.sup.-1])] was reduced in HF, but high fat feeding did not further impact the contractile reserve in HF. The contractile reserve was reduced by the high-fat diet in the Sham + SAT group. Microarray gene expression analysis revealed that the majority of significantly altered pathways identified contained multiple gene targets correspond to cell signaling pathways and energy metabolism. These findings suggest that high saturated fat improves myocardial function at rest and during physiological stress in infarcted hearts but may negatively impact the contractile reserve under nonpathological conditions. Furthermore, high fat feeding-induced alterations in gene expression related to energy metabolism and specific signaling pathways revealed promising targets through which high saturated fat potentially mediates cardioprotection in mild to moderate HF/LV dysfunction. contractile function; infarction; high-fat diet; gene array analysis doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00270.2010.

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2009.12.020 Byline: Chung-Tung J. Lin, Steven T. Yen Abstract: Dietary advice emphasizes that some dietary fats increase the risk of heart disease, whereas other dietary fats decrease risk if they are substituted for more risk-increasing fats. Thus, it is important that consumers understand the differences between dietary fats. Existing evidence in the United States suggests troublesome consumer misunderstanding. As part of its continuing effort to promote public health, the US Food and Drug Administration measured consumer awareness and understanding of dietary fats in its Health and Diet Survey- 2004 Supplement. After cognitive interviews and pretests of the questionnaire, telephone interviews of randomly selected noninstitutionalized adults aged 18 years and older in the United States were conducted between October 12, 2004, and January 21, 2005. Using cross-sectional data collected from 1,798 respondents who completed the survey, this study estimated the prevalence of awareness and understanding of six dietary fats among US adults and identified the characteristics of adults with different levels of awareness and understanding. Descriptive analyses were used, along with logistic regression models, developed to accommodate the survey design and responses. There was a wide disparity among US consumers in their awareness and understanding. Saturated fat was most recognized and understood, whereas awareness of other fats was much lower. Most importantly, having heard of a fat did not necessarily mean understanding its relationship to heart disease. Only half of those who had heard of trans fat and n-3 fatty acids understood that the fats raise and lower the risk of heart disease, respectively. Only a minority of those who had heard of partially hydrogenated oil and polyunsaturated fat knew the fats raise and lower the risk of heart disease, respectively. Many admitted being uncertain about how a fat relates to the risk of heart disease. College or more-educated adults had better awareness and understanding. Nonwhite adults were less knowledgeable. Findings on the awareness and understanding and how they are related to individual characteristics can inform deliberations about educational messages, nutrition programs, and food labeling about dietary fats to promote public health. Article History: Accepted 11 May 2009

The amygdala is rich in melanocortin 4 receptors. Because the reduction in dietary fat intake after enterostatin is injected in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) is blocked by a melanocortin 4 receptor antagonist, we investigated the role of melanocortin activity in the CeA in regulating food intake and macronutrient choice. Sprague-Dawley rats, fitted with CeA cannulas, were fed either chow, a high-fat (HF) diet, or adapted to a two-choice HF or low-fat (LF) diet. Injections of the MC4R agonist melanotan II (MTII) in the CeA had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on food intake that lasted for at least 24 h. This response was greater in rats fed a HF diet. The inverse agonist agouti-related protein (AgRP) and antagonist SHU-9119 increased food intake in a dose-dependent manner, with the hyperphagia lasting for 60 h. In rats adapted to a two-choice HF/LF diet, MTII decreased HF consumption but had no effect on LF consumption, resulting in a long-lasting decrease in total calorie intake (-35.5% after 24 h, P < 0.05). Total calorie intake increased in both AgRP- and SHU-9119-treated rats (32 and 109% after 24 h, respectively) as the result of increased intake of HF diet. There was no modification of LF consumption with AgRP treatment and a transient nonsignificant decrease with SHU-9119 treatment. Amygdala brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression was increased by AgRP in fed rats. These results identify the amygdala as a site of action for the melanocortin system to control food intake and dietary preferences. agouti-related protein; melanotan II; SHU-9119; brain derived neurotrophic factor, food intake doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00591.2009

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2009.10.004 Byline: Linda Wiens, Michael Schulzer, Charlene Chen, Karen Parinas Abstract: Measuring the outcomes of nutrition interventions in health promotion settings can be a challenge. Nutrition screening tools are often used to measure dietary patterns and nutrition intervention outcomes, but these tools may lack quantitative scoring methods. Using the SmartDiet questionnaire from Oslo, Norway, as a model, the SmartDiet Canadian Version questionnaire was developed to assess fiber and fat intake. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of this new questionnaire. In 2007, 54 volunteer subjects (63% men, mean age 68.3[+ or -]9.7 years) were recruited from the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Test-retest reliability was assessed by having subjects complete the questionnaire at recruitment and 1 month later. Intraclass correlation coefficients of reliability (ICC) for both fiber and fat intake were calculated. For fiber scores the ICC was 0.66 (95% confidence interval 0.48, 0.79) and for fat scores the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.74 (95% confidence interval 0.59, 0.84). Validity was assessed by correlating the completed questionnaire at recruitment with a 3-day food diary. The daily fat and fiber scores from the questionnaire were correlated with the corresponding average daily fat and fiber scores from the 3-day food diary by means of the Spearman correlation coefficient. For fiber scores, Spearman rho was 0.53 (P<0.001), and for fat scores it was 0.48 (P<0.001). The SmartDiet Canadian Version questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool for assessing the daily fiber and fat intake of cardiac rehabilitation clients. Article History: Accepted 29 May 2009

APOA5-1131T > C and S19W single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) have been consistently associated with plasma lipid concentration and metabolic syndrome (MetS), alone and in modulation by dietary factors. Puerto Ricans have a high prevalence of metabolic conditions and high minor allele frequency for these SNP, suggesting a possible role in disease for this population. We aimed to determine the association of APOA5-1131T > C and S19W with plasma lipids and markers of MetS, alone and in interaction with total fat intake, as a percent of total energy intake, in Puerto Ricans. Anthropometric and demographic data, FFQ, and blood samples were collected at baseline from participants in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (n = 802, 45-75 y). APOA5 S19W was associated with plasma HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) (P = 0.044); minor allele carriers had lower HDL-C [1.12 + 0.03 (mean [+ or -] SE)] than those with the common variant (1.18 [+ or -] 0.01 mmol/L), even after adjustment for plasma triglycerides (TG) (P = 0.012). Neither polymorphism was associated with TG or other lipids. Interaction of the -1131T > C SNP with total fat energy intake was observed for plasma TG (P = 0.032) and total cholesterol (P = 0.034). APOA5 S19W interacted with total fat intake in association with systolic (P = 0.002) and diastolic (P = 0.007) blood pressure. Neither SNP was associated with MetS in the overall analysis or after stratifying by total energy intake as fat. in conclusion, Puerto Ricans present a distinctive lipid profile in association with APOA5 polymorphisms. Dietary fat intake seems to modulate these associations. The results contribute to the understanding of health disparities in this population. J. Nutr. 139: 2301-2308, 2009. Manuscript received May 7, 2009. Initial review completed June 3, 2009. Revision accepted September 1, 2009. First published online October 14, 2009; doi: 10.3945/jn.109.109900.

Objectives: This paper describes the dietary intake of total fat, saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and cholesterol of participants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) in 27 centres across 10 countries. Methods: Between 1995 and 2000, a stratified random sample of 36 034 participants (age range 35-74 years) completed a standardized 24-h dietary recall, assessed by means of the computer software EPIC-SOFT. Lipid intake data were calculated using a standardized nutrient database. Results: On average, the contribution of fat to total energy intake was ≥ 34% of energy intake (%en) in women and ≥ 36%en in men for most EPIC centres, except for the British, Dutch and most Italian cohorts. Total fat (440%en) and MUFA intakes (21%en, mainly from olive oil) were highest in Greece. Except for the Greek, Spanish and Italian centres, the average MUFA intake ranged between 10 and 13%en, with a high proportion derived from animal sources. SFA intake in women and men was lowest in the Greek, Spanish, Italian and UK cohorts with an average of ≤ 13%en (down to 9%en), and highest in the Swedish centres (16%en). The mean PUFA intake was in the range of 4-8%en, being highest in the UK health-conscious cohort. The average cholesterol intake across EPIC varied from 140 to 384 mg/d in women and 215-583 mg/d in men. Conclusions: The presented data show differences and similarities in lipid intake across the European EPIC cohorts and also show differences in food sources of dietary lipids. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2009.75 Keywords: EPIC; 24-h diet recalls; dietary intake; lipids; EPIC-Soft; ENDB, Introduction Diet has a major impact on modulating the risk and severity of a number of chronic diseases including obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Among macronutrients, [...]

We undertook a population-based cohort study in Pizarra (Spain). Anthropometric and nutritional variables were recorded for 613 persons. The type of fat used was determined by measurement of the fatty acids contained in cooking oil. Serum fatty acid was used as a biological marker of the type of fat consumed. Obesity incidence in persons who were not obese at baseline was greater in those who consumed sunflower oil (Group 1: 41.5 (95% CI, 25.4-67.8) cases per 1000 person-years) than in those who consumed olive oil or a mixture of oils (Group 2: 17.3 (95% CI, 11.6-25.8) cases per 1000 person-years). The risk of developing obesity over 6 years, adjusted for age, sex, physical activity, smoking, instruction level, energy intake and baseline BMI, was 2.3 (95% CI, 1.06-5.02) in group 1 compared with that in group 2. The increase in the prevalence of obesity in the free-living population is associated with the type of fatty acids in the diet. Keywords: olive oil; obesity incidence; population-based cohort study doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2009.65; published online 22 July 2009, Two of the most important factors contributing to the increased prevalence of obesity in the world are the reduction in physical exercise and an increased intake of energy. The importance [...]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of dietary protein and fat from distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in finishing steers. Angus-cross steers (n = 105; 443 [+ or -] 20 kg of BW) were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to 1 of 5 dietary treatments: 1) corn-based diet with DDGS included at 25% of DM (CON), 2) CON with DDGS included at twice the amount of CON (50% of DM; 50DDGS), 3) CON with added corn protein to equal the CP in the 50DDGS diet (CON+CP), 4) CON with added vegetable oil to equal the fat in the 50DDGS diet (CON+VO), and 5) CON with protein and fat added to equal the CP and fat in the 50DDGS diet (CON+CPVO). Steers were fed to a common 12th-rib fat depth endpoint (1.3 [+ or -] 0.2 cm; 68 to 125 d on trial). Loins and rounds were collected from 44 carcasses for Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), ether extract, and case-life analyses. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Contrasts between 1) CON vs. elevated CP diets (50DDGS, CON+CP, and CON+CPVO; EP), 2) CON vs. elevated fat diets (50DDGS, CON+VO, and CON+CPVO; EF) and 3) CON vs. diets with elevated CP and fat (50DDGS and CON+CPVO; EPF) were analyzed. There were no dif ferences in days on feed or DMI among treatments. Steers fed CON had greater ADG (P [less than or equal to] 0.03) than EP, EF, and EPF diets. Steers fed CON also had greater G:F (P [less than or equal to] 0.04) than EP and EPF steers. Final BW was greater for CON than EP and EPF diets (P [less than or equal to] 0.03). Likewise, CON steers had heavier HCW than EPF steers (P = 0.04). Dressing percent, 12th-rib fat depth, LM area, KPH, and yield grade were not affected by treatment (P [greater than or equal to] 0.06). Steers fed the CON diet had greater marbling scores (P [less than or equal to] 0.03) and quality grades (P [less than or equal to] 0.02) compared with those fed EP, EF, and EPF diets. There were no differences in WBSF, ether extract, or lipid oxidation due to treatment (P [greater than or equal to] 0.44). However, CON steers had greater (P = 0.02) [L.sup.*] values than EF-fed steers and greater [b.sup.*] values than EP, EF, and EPF steers (P [less than or equal to] 0.02) during retail display of ground product. Data from this study illustrate that live animal performance, marbling and quality grade, and color stability of ground product during retail display are negatively affected when DDGS are increased from 25 to 50% of the diet DM. This response appears to be due to elevated dietary fat, elevated CP, and a combination of elevated fat and protein within in the diet. Key words: distillers grain, feedlot, marbling, meat quality, steer

BACKGROUND: Increased fat intake is associated with obesity and may make obese individuals uniquely susceptible to the effects of lipophilic aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) ligands. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the consequences [...]

Background: The relation between dietary fat, blood lipids, plasma factor VII coagulant activity (FVllc) and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) according to the R353Q polymorphism in the factor VII gene was assessed. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 15 073 individuals participating in the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC) Norfolk, 7433 of which had FVllc available. Nested case-control study of 985 CHD cases and 2009 matched controls. Results: FVllc was significantly associated with total fat intake in females, especially in the RR homozygotes (standardized [beta] = 0.24; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.08-0.40; P Conclusion: These results show a strong association between dietary fat intake and FVllc in women, and between serum triacylglycerol and cholesterol and FVllc levels in both genders. The R353Q genotype only marginally affected modulation of FVllc by dietary fat. The association between triacylglycerol and FVllc was significantly stronger in males carrying the Q allele than in those with the RR genotype. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2008.28; published online 9 April 2008 Keywords: coronary heart disease; diet; factor Vllc; R353Q polymorphism; serum lipids, Introduction Fat intake, especially saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake, is an important determinant of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, either through its role in raising total low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol [...]

Animals are remarkably efficient in absorbing dietary fat and assimilating this energy-dense nutrient into the white adipose tissue (WAT) for storage. Although this metabolic efficiency may confer an advantage in times of calorie deprivation, it contributes to obesity and associated metabolic disorders when dietary fat is abundant (1,2). Here we show that the intestinal lipid synthesis enzyme acyl CoA:monoacylglycerol acyltransferase-2 (MGAT2) has a crucial role in the assimilation of dietary fat and the accretion of body fat in mice. Mice lacking MGAT2 have a normal phenotype on a low-fat diet. However, on a high-fat diet, MGAT2-deficient mice are protected against developing obesity, glucose intolerance, hypercholesterolemia and fatty livers. Caloric intake is normal in MGAT2-deficient mice, and dietary fat is absorbed fully. However, entry of dietary fat into the circulation occurs at a reduced rate. This altered kinetics of fat absorption apparently results in more partitioning of dietary fat toward energy dissipation rather than toward storage in the WAT. Thus, our studies identify MGAT2 as a key determinant of energy metabolism in response to dietary fat and suggest that the inhibition of this enzyme may prove to be a useful strategy for treating obesity and other metabolic diseases associated with excessive fat intake., Dietary fat, as triacylglycerol, is a major source of calories, accounting for over 30% of daily intake in most developed countries (3). The assimilation of triacylglycerol as body fat is [...]

Oral exposure to dietary fat results in an early initial spike, followed by a prolonged elevation, of serum triglycerides in humans. The physiological and pathophysiological implications remain unknown. This study sought to determine the incidence of the effect, the required fat exposure duration, and its reliability. Thirty-four healthy adults participated in four to six response-driven trials held at least a week apart. They reported to the laboratory after an overnight fast, a catheter was placed in an antecubital vein, and a blood sample was obtained. Participants then ingested 50 g of safflower oil in capsules with 500 ml of water within 15 min to mimic a high fat meal but without oral fat exposure. Blood was collected 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 120, 240, 360, and 480 min after capsule ingestion with different forms (full fat, nonfat, none) and durations of oral fat exposures (10 s, 5 min, 20 min, and/or 2 h). A triglyceride response (increase of triglyceride >10 mg/dl within 30 min) was observed in 88.2%, 70.5%, and 50% of participants with full-fat, nonfat, and no oral exposure, respectively. Test-retest reliability was 75% with full-fat exposure but only 45.4% with nonfat exposure. Full-fat and nonfat exposures led to comparable significant elevations of triglyceride over no oral stimulation with 10-s exposures, but full fat led to a greater rise than nonfat with 20 min of exposure. These data indicate that nutritionally relevant oral fat exposures reliably elevate serum triglyceride concentrations in most people. taste; lipid; cardiovascular disease; chemosensory; cephalic phase

Background/Objectives: Vitamins can help improve cardiovascular control. In contrast, smoking works in the opposite fashion, reducing the baroreflex control of heart rate (HR) possibly via oxidative stress. High-fat challenges also impair cardiovascular regulation. Whether vitamins have acute beneficial effects on the baroreflex control of HR in smokers is unclear. Subjects/Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study in 30 male smokers (34.2 [+ or -] 6.9 years). Interventions were: (1) moderate (vitamin C (300 mg) and E (75 IU) and folic acid (1 mg)); (2) high doses of vitamins (vitamin C (2 g) and E (800 IU), and folic acid (5 mg)); or, (3) placebo. Vitamins were ingested with cream (a high-fat challenge) or milk (low-fat control). Four hours later, blood was withdrawn and radial pulse wave forms recorded via tonometry. Spontaneous beat-to-beat variations in HR and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were analysed by spectral analysis techniques and sympathovagal control of HR and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) were assessed. Results: High doses of vitamins increased plasma vitamin C, E and folic acid levels (P0.05, analysis of variance). Plasma vitamin levels did not correlate with any cardiovascular parameters. Moderate vitamins increased the vagal control of HR (+23%; P Conclusions: In male smokers, circulating antioxidants had no effect on BRS and minor effects on the cardiovascular system were seen following acute fat and vitamin ingestion. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602912; published online 26 September 2007 Keywords: baroreflex sensitivity; spectral analysis; blood-pressure variability; heart-rate variability, Introduction A growing number of reports are focusing on the health benefits of foods with the realization that diet is a potential way to influence health (Fu et al., 2006) [...]

This study tested the hypothesis that the effect of trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (t10, c12 CLA) on energy intake (EI) and bodyweight (BW)/composition is confounded by dietary fat concentration and involves hypothalamic appetite-controlling mechanisms. ICR mice received low-fat (LF; 5 g/100 g) or high-fat (HF; 30 g/100 g) diets, with or without 0.5 g/100 g t10, c12 CLA (>98% pure) for 27 d. By d 13, BW and cumulative EI of the mice fed CLA supplemented LF diet (LF/CLA) were 6.6 and 23.6% lower, respectively, than the LF mice. In the subsequent 14 d, their EI rebounded and did not differ from the LF group. BW and EI did not differ between the HF and CLA supplemented HF (HF/CLA) groups. Hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA expression was elevated (P = 0.031) on d 13 but suppressed (P< 0.001) on d 27 due to CLA treatment. CLA also suppressed AMP-activated protein kinase [alpha]2 expression. Mice in Expt. 2 received the LF diet, the LF/CLA, or were pair-fed the LF diet to the EI of the CLA group (LF/PF). LF/CLA and LF/PF mice did not differ in the hypothalamic POMC:neuropeptide Y expression ratio on d 13, but it was significantly lower in the LF/PF group on d 27. We conclude that the habitual dietary fat concentration influences the magnitude of weight loss induced by dietary t10, c12 CLA. The effect is in part independent of EI. Hypothalamic neuropeptides and nutrient sensing mechanisms may play a role.

Orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) is an important source of [beta]-carotene ([beta]C). Provitamin A bioefficacy from plant foods is influenced by dietary fat and fiber. We fed 3% OFSP powder diets with varying amounts of fat and soluble fiber to vitamin A (VA)-depleted Mongolian gerbils (n = 85) for 3 wk (8 groups, n = 10/group; control, n = 9) following a baseline kill (n = 6). OFSP diets differing in fat (3, 6, and 12%) contained 0.24% soluble fiber. Two additional 3% OFSP diets contained 6% fat and 3 or 9% white-fleshed sweet potato (WFSP) powder with soluble fiber contents of 0.42 and 0.80%, respectively. Control, VA-, and [beta]C-supplemented groups were included. Simulated digestion experiments compared the bioaccessibility of [beta]C from boiled vs. oil stir-fried OFSP. All OFSP diets maintained VA status and 12% fat and WFSP-added diets improved VA status above baseline (P < 0.05). Bioefficacy, as bioconversion factors, in gerbils fed 12% fat (3.5 [+ or -] 1.4 [micro]g [beta]C:1 [micro]g VA) was improved over the 3% fat and [beta]C groups (6.5 [+ or -] 3.7 and 6.7 [+ or -] 3.7 [micro]g [beta]C:1 [micro]g VA, respectively) (P < 0.05) but did not differ from WFSP-added groups or the 6% fat group with no WFSP. Stir-frying doubled the efficiency of [beta]C incorporation into micelles during small intestinal digestion in support of the stimulatory effect of dietary fat on bioefficacy in vivo. Soluble fiber intake derived from WFSP did not influence bioefficacy. Replacing WFSP with OFSP will affect VA status if adopted by target groups.