Denis Barclay

Selenium absorption and retention from a selenite- or selenate-fortified milk-based formula in men measured by a stable-isotope technique

The present study was designed to determine the apparent absorption and retention of the inorganic Se compounds SeO3(2-) and SeO4(2-), which are commonly used for Se fortification of clinical nutrition products and infant formulas. Ten healthy men were fed a milk-based formula labelled with 40 microg Se as 74SeO3(2-) or 76SeO4(2-) on two consecutive days using a randomised crossover design. Se stable-isotope analysis of 9 d complete collections of urine and faeces was used to calculate apparent Se absorption and retention. Se retention from 74SeO3(2-) (41.0 (SD 8.4) %) and from 76SeO4(2-) (46.0 (SD 7.9) %) was not significantly different (P > 0.05). However, Se absorption was significantly higher from SeO4(2-) than from SeO3(2-) (91.3 (SD 1.4) % v. 50.2 (SD 7.8) %, P < 0.05). Urinary excretion of the administered dose was 9.2 (SD 1.8) % for 74SeO3(2-) and 45.3 (SD 8.2) % for 76SeO4(2-) (P < 0.05). Urinary Se excretion kinetics differed significantly for the two Se compounds; 90 % of the total urinary Se was excreted after 121 h for 74SeO32- and after 40 h for 76SeO42- These results suggest that although Se absorption and urinary excretion differ for SeO3(2-) and SeO4(2-), both Se compounds are equally well retained when administered at a relatively low dose (40 microg Se). The nutritional impact of Se fortification of foods would thus be expected to be similar when SeO4(2-) or SeO3(2-) are used.

The CUPDAY Study: prebiotic‐probiotic milk product in 1–3‐year‐old children attending childcare centres

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a milk product containing probiotics and prebiotics (CUPDAY Milk) on the incidence of diarrhoea in children attending daycare centres.

Safety of supplementing infant formula with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and Bifidobacterium lactis in term infants: a randomised controlled trial

Probiotics and long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA) may be beneficial supplements for infants who are not breast-fed. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the safety of an infant formula containing the LC-PUFA DHA and arachidonic acid (AA) and the probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis by comparing the growth rate of infants fed the supplemented and unsupplemented formulas. One hundred and forty-two healthy, term infants were enrolled in a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, controlled, parallel-group trial, and allocated to receive either standard or probiotic and LC-PUFA-containing experimental formulas. The infants were fed with their assigned formulas for 7 months. The primary outcome (weight gain) and the secondary outcomes (length, head circumference and formula tolerance) were measured throughout the study. LC-PUFA status was assessed at 4 months of age and immune response to childhood vaccines was measured at 7 months of age. There was no significant difference in growth between the two groups. The 90 % CI for the difference in mean weight gain was - 0.08, 3.1 g in the intention-to-treat population and 0.1-3.8 g in the per protocol population, which lay within the predefined boundaries of equivalence, - 3.9-3.9. There were no significant differences in mean length and head circumference. DHA and AA concentrations were higher in infants in the experimental formula group compared with the control formula group. No influence of the supplements on the response to vaccines was observed. Growth characteristics of term infants fed the starter formula containing a probiotic and LC-PUFA were similar to standard formula-fed infants.

Gastric emptying in healthy newborns fed an intact protein formula, a partially and an extensively hydrolysed formula.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Gastric emptying (GE) is influenced by the type of nutrition. The objective of this study was to compare GE in infants fed an intact protein formula (IPF), a partially hydrolysed formula (PHF), and an extensively hydrolysed formula (EHF). METHODS This was a double-blind, randomized, cross-over study. Following a fasting period of > or = 3 h, 20 healthy newborns were fed IPF, PHF, and EHF containing 50 microl (13)C-octanoic acid (OA). Breath samples were taken before feeding and every 15 min for 4 h thereafter. (13)C-OA breath test was assessed by isotope-ratio mass spectrometry, and GE half-times (t(1/2)) were determined. RESULTS Seventeen infants with a mean gestational age of 37 wk (range 28-40 wk) and birth weight of 2698 g (range 720-3690 g) completed the study. At study initiation, the mean age was 31 d (range 6 d-13 wk) and the mean weight was 3466 g (range 2100-5700 g). EHF emptied significantly faster than IPF and PHF (medians 46 vs. 55 and 53 min, respectively, Wilcoxon, P<0.05 for both). There was no significant difference between GE of PHF and IPF (Wilcoxon, P=0.2). CONCLUSIONS EHF may be better tolerated by infants with GE problems.

Comparison of selenite and selenate apparent absorption and retention in infants using stable isotope methodology.

The inorganic selenium compounds selenite and selenate are used for selenium fortification of infant formulas. However, information on absorption and retention of selenium from these compounds is lacking. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine apparent absorption and retention of selenium from selenate and selenite added to a milk-based infant formula in healthy infants. Labeled test meals were prepared by addition of 10 μg Se as 76Se-selenate or 74Se-selenite to 500 mL formula. The two batches of labeled formulas were fed as alternate feeds during the first day of the balance period, followed by unlabeled formula. Selenium isotopes were determined in feces collected for 72h after intake and in 3 consecutive 24h collections of urine. Mean apparent absorption was 97.1% for 76Se-selenate and 73.4% for 74Se-selenite; mean difference 23.7% (range: 13.8%–35.7%; SD 6.8%, p < 0.001). Mean urinary excretion (% of ingested dose) was 36.4% (76Se-selenate) and 9.7% (74Se-selenite); mean difference 26.7% (range: 13.9%–36.5%; SD 5.9%, p < 0.001). Mean apparent retention of selenium from 76Se-selenate and 74Se-selenite was not significantly different, 60.7% (76Se-selenate) versus 63.7% (for 74Se-selenite). The average difference was −3.01% (range: −14.0%–12.0%; SD 9.4%, p = 0.36). Although apparent selenium absorption and urinary excretion differed for selenite and selenate, selenium was equally well retained by infants from both selenium compounds. We therefore concluded that Se fortification of infant formulas with selenate or selenite can be expected to have similar impact on the selenium nutritional status of term infants.

Zinc Supplementation and Child Growth in Ecuador

The National Nutrition and Health Survey, implemented in 1986 in Ecuador, investigated nutritional status, food intake, morbidity and mortality of 0–5 year-old children in the country (Freire et al., 1988). High prevalences of malnutrition, as assessed by anthropometry, were found: prevalences of linear growth retardation ranged between 37% in the costal urban areas and 67% in the rural Andes. Single nutrient deficiencies were also widespread: anemia was a particularly serious problem with 69% of the children between 6 and 11 months of age being anemic; vitamin A status was marginal and riboflavin status was poor.

The Nutrient Balance Concept: A New Quality Metric for Composite Meals and Diets

Background Combinations of foods that provide suitable levels of nutrients and energy are required for optimum health. Currently, however, it is difficult to define numerically what are ‘suitable levels’. Objective To develop new metrics based on energy considerations—the Nutrient Balance Concept (NBC)—for assessing overall nutrition quality when combining foods and meals. Method The NBC was developed using the USDA Food Composition Database (Release 27) and illustrated with their MyPlate 7-day sample menus for a 2000 calorie food pattern. The NBC concept is centered on three specific metrics for a given food, meal or diet—a Qualifying Index (QI), a Disqualifying Index (DI) and a Nutrient Balance (NB). The QI and DI were determined, respectively, from the content of 27 essential nutrients and 6 nutrients associated with negative health outcomes. The third metric, the Nutrient Balance (NB), was derived from the Qualifying Index (QI) and provided key information on the relative content of qualifying nutrients in the food. Because the Qualifying and Disqualifying Indices (QI and DI) were standardized to energy content, both become constants for a given food/meal/diet and a particular consumer age group, making it possible to develop algorithms for predicting nutrition quality when combining different foods. Results Combining different foods into composite meals and daily diets led to improved nutrition quality as seen by QI values closer to unity (indicating nutrient density was better equilibrated with energy density), DI values below 1.0 (denoting an acceptable level of consumption of disqualifying nutrients) and increased NB values (signifying complementarity of foods and better provision of qualifying nutrients). Conclusion The Nutrient Balance Concept (NBC) represents a new approach to nutrient profiling and the first step in the progression from the nutrient evaluation of individual foods to that of multiple foods in the context of meals and total diets.

Micronutrient intake and status in rural Democratic Republic of Congo

Vitamin, mineral and trace element intakes were assessed in a rural African population using a novel dietary survey method, and compared with status measurements. In addition to the previously described protein deficiency, multiple micronutrient deficiencies were observed. Although vitamin A intakes were generally satisfactory, some low plasma retinol concentrations were observed in adults, due perhaps to the very low protein intakes or infectious diseases. Vitamin B1, B2 and niacin intakes were clearly inadequate, and for the two former were confirmed by status measurements. Whilst B6 intake was low, B6 status was adequate, probably resulting from lower requirements because of low protein intakes. B12 intake was low in some age groups, whereas that of folate was satisfactory. Fe, Cu and Mg intakes appeared to be adequate. Intakes of phosphorus and iodine were low for children and adolescents; those of Zn and Ca were clearly inadequate, except for Zn in women. Dietary interventions to prevent or treat malnutrition in this region should address several micronutrients in addition to protein.

A packaged rice-based oral rehydration solution for acute diarrhea.

Summary: In a 12-month community study in Ecuadorian preschool children, we compared a packaged rice-based oral rehydration solution (R-ORS) that contained 160 g of rice flour and 12 g of sucrose per liter as well as electrolytes and α-amylase, and required cooking before consumption, to the standard glucose-electrolyte oral rehydration solution (G-ORS) for the treatment of acute non-cholera diarrhea. The reconstituted R-ORS had energy and protein contents of 620 kcal/L and 12g/L, respectively, and an osmolarity of 230 mosm/L. In all, 156 cases were treated with the R-ORS and 144 with the standard G-ORS. Cases treated with R-ORS had a significantly shorter duration of diarrhea (p < 0.0001; median; 34 h versus 48 h), a lower number of stools (p < 0.001; median; four versus seven), and a greater weight gain after 4 days of treatment (p < 0.05; mean; 1.6% versus-0.2%) than those treated with G-ORS. ORS and total liquid intakes tended to be higher with the R-ORS. The two ORS were equivalent for the correction of mild dehydration and the maintenance of normal hydration status.

Determination of selenium stable isotopes by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with negative chemical ionisation

A gas chromatography mass spectrometric method using negative chemical ionisation was developed for the determination of stable isotopes of selenium for evaluation of selenium absorption and retention from foods in humans. The method involves an acid digestion to convert all selenium into selenite, which subsequently reacts with 4-nitro-o-phenylene-diamine to form a volatile piazselenole. The piazselenole, after extraction into an organic solvent, was analysed for its isotopic selenium composition by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Negative chemical ionisation is reported for the first time for the determination of selenium stable isotopes and its analytical characteristics were compared to those of electron impact mass spectrometric ionisation, classically used for the determination of selenium. The negative chemical ionisation technique allowed accurate determination of total selenium by isotope dilution and of selenium isotope ratios in biological samples. The repeatability for total selenium and for stable isotope ratios was good (R.S.D.< or =10%) within the range of 50 to 250 ng selenium. The detection limit for the investigated selenium isotopes was approximately 1 pg (signal to noise ratio at 3). The applicability of the developed stable isotope methodology was demonstrated by the determination of the selenium absorption and retention from foods in a pilot study using one human adult.