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Expert groups and public health authorities recommend that trans-fatty acid (TFA) intakes from industrially produced partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVOs) should be less than 1% of total energy intake. The starting point for any regulatory or nonregulatory response to this recommendation is to assess the extent of the problem by determining where in the food supply TFAs are found and the amounts consumed in the population. Unfortunately, this is a particularly difficult task using traditional methods of dietary assessment inasmuch as food composition databases with TFA data are either nonexistent or incomplete in most countries. Current evidence on estimates of intake suggests there is high variability in TFA intakes and their food sources between countries. The ubiquitous presence of PHVOs in the global food supply in bakery products, deep-fried foods, snack foods, confectionery products and table spreads attests to their commercial value and convenience. However, their common use is more the result of historical convenience from an industry infrastructure developed over 50 years based on efficient, cost-effective hydrogenation of vegetable oils rather than any inherent sensory or physical superiority of the hydrogenated fats over purpose-made zero-trans fats and oils. Current global supply of appropriate zero-trans replacement fats high in cis-nsaturated fatty acids is insufficient to meet the demand if all PHVOs in the food supply were replaced. Regulatory action needs to be coordinated with supply to maximize the opportunity for health gains by replacing partially hydrogenated fats with purpose ready zero-trans vegetable oils low in saturates and high in cis-unsaturates rather than animal fats and tropical oils high in saturated fatty acids. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602974 Keywords: trans-fatty acids; diet surveys; dietary fats; nutrition assessment; food supply, Introduction The Joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation on Diet, Nutrition, and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases recommended that the mean population intake of trans-fatty acids (TFAs) from industrially produced hydrogenated oils [...]

Objective: To describe the vitamin D status of women living in two Asian cities,--Jakarta (6[degrees]S) and Kuala-Lumpur (2[degrees]N), to examine the association between plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) [...]

Objective: To examine, in free-living adults eating self-selected diets, the effects on plasma cholesterol of substituting saturated fat rich foods with either n-6 polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fat rich foods while at the same time adhering to a total fat intake of 30-33% of dietary energy. Design: Two randomised crossover trials. Setting: General community. Subjects: Volunteer sample of healthy free-living nutrition students at the University of Otago. Trial I, n =29; and trial II, n = 42. Interventions: In trials I and II participants were asked to follow for 22 1 weeks a diet high in saturated fat yet with a total fat content that conformed to nutrition recommendations (30-33% energy). During the 21/2 week comparison diet, saturated fat rich foods were replaced with foods rich in n-6 polyunsaturated fats (trial I) whereas in trial II the replacement foods were rich in monounsaturated fats. Participants were asked to maintain a total fat intake of 30-33% of energy on all diets. Main outcome measures: Energy and nutrient intakes, plasma triglyceride fatty acids, and plasma cholesterol. Results: When replacing saturated fat with either n-6 polyunsaturated fat or monounsaturated fat, total fat intakes decreased by 2.9% energy and 5.1% energy, respectively. Replacing saturated fat with n-6 polyunsaturated fat (trial I) lowered plasma total cholesterol by 19% [from 4.87 (0.88) to 3.94 (0.92) mmol/l, mean (s.d.)], low density lipoprotein cholesterol by 22% [from 2.87 (0.75) to 2.24 (0.67) mmol/l], and high density lipoprotein cholesterol by 14% [from 1.39 (0.36) to 1.19 (0.34) mmol/l], whereas replacing saturated fat with monounsaturated fat (trial II) decreased total cholesterol by 12%, low density lipoprotein cholesterol by 15%, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol by 4%, respectively. The change in the ratio of total to high density lipoprotein cholesterol was similar during trial I and trial II. Conclusions: Young adults are very responsive to dietary-induced changes in plasma cholesterol even when an isocaloric replacement of saturated fat with n-6 polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fat is not achieved. Replacing saturated fat with either n-6 polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fat is equally efficacious at reducing the total to high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio. Sponsorship: University of Otago, Meadow Lea Ltd. Descriptors: young adults; plasma triglyceride fatty acids; saturated fat; monounsaturated fat; n-6 polyunsaturated fat; plasma cholesterol, Introduction There is widespread agreement that decreasing saturated fat intake is the cornerstone of dietary recommendations to reduce blood cholesterol-mediated risk of cardiovascular disease (Grandy & Denke, 1990; NCEP, 1991). [...]

Objective: To determine whether dietary modification rather than use of supplements can raise indices of vitamin E status to potentially cardioprotective levels. Design: Eight week randomised controlled trial with parallel treatments to compare increased use of vitamin Erich foods, supplementation with 200IU of vitamin E, and a placebo. Setting: Dunedin, New Zealand. Subjects: Ninety subjects were recruited, of whom 82 non-smoking, free-living individuals aged 22-72y with plasma cholesterol Main outcome measures: Dietary intakes, plasma alpha tocopherol, plasma alpha tocopherol/cholesterol ratio and lipoprotein cholesterol. Results: Consumption of an additional 12 mg of vitamin E (alpha tocopherol equivalents) from dietary sources was primarily achieved through the replacement of saturated fat-rich foods with unsaturated fats rich in vitamin E, nuts and vegetables. This resulted in a 3.4 [micro]mol/l increase in plasma alpha tocopherol at week 6 (95% CI 1.6-5.3), and 0.9 [micro]mol/mmol in plasma alpha tocopherol/cholesterol at weeks 4 and 6 (95% CI 0.3-1.4 and 0.4-1.4, respectively) when compared with the placebo group. In the supplement group, plasma alpha tocopherol and plasma alpha tocopherol/cholesterol were significantly increased within 2 weeks and remained so throughout the 8 week intervention. Conclusion: Increasing dietary vitamin E intake can increase plasma alpha tocopherol levels, although factors other than dietary intake are also important determinants. The extent of dietary modification required to achieve potentially cardioprotective levels of plasma alpha tocopherol is difficult in practice. Sponsorship: The study was supported through the Otago Medical Research Foundation Laurenson Award. Descriptors: vitamin E; antioxidant; clinical trial; dietary modification, Introduction A considerable body of evidence suggests that vitamin E helps to protect against coronary heart disease. Prospective epidemiological studies have demonstrated reduced risk of subsequent coronary heart disease amongst [...]

Objective: To determine the relative validity of an iron food frequency questionnaire (iron FFQ) designed to assess intakes of dietary iron and its absorption modifiers. Design: A computer-administered food frequency questionnaire was designed to estimate intake of total, nonhaem, haem and meat iron as well as dietary components which influence iron absorption (vitamin C, phytate, calcium, grammes of meat/fish/poultry, tea and coffee) in women consuming a Western diet. The relative validity of the iron FFQ was assessed by comparing its results with those from weighed diet records collected over 11 days. Setting: Dunedin, New Zealand. Participants: Forty-nine women aged 19-31 y attending the University of Otago. Results: There was good agreement between the iron FFQ and the weighed diet records for median intakes of total iron, non-haem iron, calcium, tea and coffee. For dietary component intakes, correlations between the two methods ranged from 0.39 (for vitamin C) to 0.87 (for coffee) with 0.52 for total iron, and 0.61 for haem iron. In cross-classification with the weighed diet record, the iron FFQ correctly classified between 22% (for vitamin C) and 51% (for phytate) of participants into the same quartile. Actual values for surrogate categories indicated that the questionnaire can clearly differentiate between low and high intakes of all the dietary components assessed. The questionnaire also showed an acceptable level of agreement between repeat administrations (eg a correlation for total iron of 0.65). Conclusions: The iron FFQ is appropriate for assessing group intakes of total iron, and iron absorption modifiers, in population studies to assess the aetiology and treatment of iron deficiency states in adult women consuming a Western diet. Sponsorship: This research was supported (in part) by a grant from the Health Research Council of New Zealand. Descriptors: iron; dietary assessment; women's health, Introduction Iron deficiency states are the most common nutritional deficiencies in developed countries, with rates of 7% (Russell et al, 1999), 11% (Looker et al, 1997) and 13% (Gregory et [...]

A major public health objective in many developed countries is reduction of serum cholesterol concentrations, associated with coronary heart disease. A new study investigates the effects of low- and high-saturated fat diets on blood lipids, fatty acids and lipoproteins and determines whether a high-carbohydrate diet has any adverse effects on serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides in individuals. It is shown that individuals who adopt a fibre rich high-carbohydrate can lose weight and reduce both total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, with little effect on high density lipoprotein cholesterol or tryglyceride.

Tuatara (Sphenodon, Order Sphenodontia) are rare New Zealand reptiles whose conservation involves captive breeding. Wild tuatara eat seabirds, which contain high levels of the long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These fatty acids are absent from the captive diet, and consequently, plasma fatty acid composition of wild and captive tuatara differs. This study investigated the effects of incorporating EPA and DHA into the diet of captive juvenile tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)in an attempt to replicate the plasma fatty acid composition of wild tuatara. Tuatara receiving a fish oil supplement containing EPA and DHA showed overall changes in their plasma fatty acid composition. Phospholipid EPA and DHA increased markedly, reaching 10.0% and 5.9 mol%, respectively, by 18 mo (cf. &+; 0.9% in controls). A reduced dosage from 18 to 24 mo probably still provided a higher n-3 PUFA content than the diet of wild juveniles. The fish oil supplement had no significant effects over 2 yr on growth rate, food conversion efficiency, or metabolism compared with controls; all juveniles survived and grew. Further study is required to determine whether a fish oil supplement would have long-term benefits for captive tuatara. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]