Dietary sodium and nocturnal blood pressure dipping in normotensive men and women.

Impaired nocturnal blood pressure (BP) dipping (i.e., <10% decline in nocturnal BP) is associated with an increased risk of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. Excess sodium has been shown to impair BP regulation and increase cardiovascular disease risk, yet few studies have assessed the influence of dietary sodium on nocturnal dipping in normotensive adults. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of dietary sodium on BP dipping in normotensive men and women. Eighty healthy normotensive adults participated in a controlled feeding study (men: n=39, 34±2 years; women: n=41, 41±2 years). Participants consumed a standardized run-in 100 mmol sodium per day diet for 7 days, followed by 7 days of low-sodium (LS; 20 mmol per day) and high-sodium (HS; 300 mmol per day) diets in random order. On the final day of each diet, subjects wore a 24 h ambulatory BP monitor, collected a 24 h urine sample and provided a blood sample. During the run-in diet, 24 h urinary sodium excretion was 79.4±5.1 mmol per 24 h in men and 85.3±5.5 mmol per 24 h in women (P>0.05). Systolic BP dipping was not different between men (11.4±1.0%) and women (11.2±0.9%); (P>0.05). During the HS diet, 24 h urinary sodium excretion increased compared with the LS diet in men (LS=31.7±4.6 mmol per 24 h vs HS=235.0±13.9 mmol per 24 h, P<0.01) and women (LS=25.8±2.2 mmol per 24 h vs HS=234.7±13.8 mmol per 24 h, P<0.01). Despite this large increase in sodium intake and excretion, systolic BP dipping was not blunted in men (LS=8.9±1.0% vs HS=9.4±1.2%, P>0.05) or women (LS=10.3±0.8% vs HS=10.5±0.8%, P>0.05). Among normotensive men and women, HS does not blunt nocturnal BP dipping.

Rapid onset pressor and sympathetic responses to static handgrip in older hypertensive adults.

Exaggerated pressor and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) responses have been reported during static handgrip in hypertensive (HTN) adults. Recent work suggests that such responses may occur much more rapidly in HTN patients; however, this has not been extensively studied. Thus, we examined the blood pressure (BP) and MSNA responses at the immediate onset of muscle contraction and tested the hypothesis that older HTN adults would exhibit rapid onset pressor and sympathetic responses compared with normotensive (NTN) adults. Heart rate (HR), BP (Finometer) and MSNA (peroneal microneurography) were retrospectively analyzed in 15 HTN (62 ± 1 years; resting BP 153 ± 3/91 ± 5 mm Hg) and 23 age-matched NTN (60 ± 1 years; resting BP 112 ± 1/67 ± 2 mm Hg) subjects during the first 30 s of static handgrip at 30 and 40% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). HTN adults demonstrated exaggerated increases in mean BP during the first 10 s of both 30% (NTN: Δ1 ± 1 vs HTN: Δ7 ± 2 mm Hg; P < 0.05) and 40% (NTN: Δ2 ± 1 vs HTN: Δ8 ± 2 mm Hg; P < 0.05) intensity handgrip. Likewise, HTN adults exhibited atypical increases in MSNA within 10 s. Increases in HR were also greater in HTN adults at 10 s of 30% MVC handgrip, although not at 40% MVC. There were no group differences in 10 s pressor or sympathetic responses to a cold pressor test, suggesting no differences in generalized sympathetic responsiveness. Thus, static handgrip evokes rapid onset pressor and sympathetic responses in older HTN adults. These findings suggest that older HTN adults likely have greater cardiovascular risk even during short duration activities of daily living that contain an isometric component.

Salt loading has a more deleterious effect on flow-mediated dilation in salt-resistant men than women.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Dietary sodium loading has been shown to adversely impact endothelial function independently of blood pressure (BP). However, it is unknown whether dietary sodium loading impacts endothelial function differently in men as compared to women. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that endothelial-dependent dilation (EDD) would be lower in men as compared to women in response to a high sodium diet. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty subjects (14F, 31±2y; 16M, 29±2y) underwent a randomized, crossover, controlled diet study consisting of 7 days of low sodium (LS; 20 mmol/day) and 7 days of high sodium (HS; 300-350 mmol/day). Salt-resistance was determined by a change in 24-hr mean arterial pressure (MAP) ≤ 5 mm Hg between HS and LS as assessed on day 7 of each diet. Blood and 24-hr urine were also collected and EDD was assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). By design, MAP was not different between LS and HS conditions and urinary sodium excretion increased on HS diet (P < 0.01). FMD did not differ between men and women on the LS diet (10.2 ± 0.65 vs. 10.7 ± 0.83; P > 0.05) and declined in both men and women on HS (P < 0.001). However, FMD was lower in men as compared to women on HS (5.7 ± 0.5 vs. 8.6 ± 0.86; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: HS reduced FMD in both men and women. In response to an HS diet, FMD was lower in men compared to women suggesting a greater sensitivity of the vasculature to high sodium in men.

Direct renin inhibition improves parasympathetic function in diabetes.

AIM: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and autonomic nervous system regulate the cardiovascular system. Blockade of the RAAS may slow the progression of end-organ damage. Direct renin inhibition offers a means for blocking the RAAS. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of direct renin inhibition on cardiovascular autonomic function. METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 60 individuals with diabetes were randomly assigned to 300 mg of aliskiren or placebo once daily for 6 weeks. The primary end point was a change in tests of cardiovascular autonomic function. Autonomic function was assessed by power spectral analysis and RR-variation during deep breathing [i.e. mean circular resultant (MCR), expiration/inspiration (E/I) ratio]. The MCR and E/I ratio assess parasympathetic function. Secondary measures included change in biochemical parameters [e.g. plasma renin activity, leptin and interleukin-6]. Change in cardiovascular autonomic function and blood analytes were analysed by a mixed effects model for repeated measures. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar between treatment groups. In response to aliskiren compared with placebo, blood pressure was reduced as well as plasma renin activity [from 2.4 ± 3.8 (mean ± standard deviation) to 0.5 ± 0.4 µg/l/h, p < 0.001]. There was a significant interaction (aliskiren × visit) for MCR (p = 0.003) and E/I ratio (p = 0.003) indicating improvement in MCR and E/I ratio for those on aliskiren. MCR means, baseline vs. follow-up, were 41.8 ± 19.7 vs. 50.8 ± 26.1 (aliskiren) and 38.2 ± 23.6 vs. 37.5 ± 24.1 (placebo). CONCLUSIONS: Parasympathetic function (i.e. MCR and E/I ratio) was enhanced by downregulation of the RAAS.

Association of aldose reductase gene Z+2 polymorphism with reduced susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy in Caucasian Type 1 diabetic patients.

AIMS: The Z-2 allele of the (AC)n polymorphism in the aldose reductase gene (ALR2) confers increased risk of microvascular diabetic complications, whereas the Z+2 allele has been proposed to be a marker of protection. However data are conflicting. Therefore, we investigated whether this polymorphism is associated with diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy in Type 1 diabetes mellitus in a large case-control study and a family-based analysis. METHODS: A total of 431 Type 1 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy and 468 patients with longstanding Type 1 diabetes and persistent normoalbuminuria were genotyped for the case-control study. In addition, 102 case trios and 98 control trios were genotyped for a family-based study. RESULTS: Thirteen different alleles were identified. In the case-control study, the Z+2 allele frequency was significantly higher in the normoalbuminuric diabetic than in patients with diabetic nephropathy (0.17 vs. 0.11, P = 0.008), suggesting a protective function of the Z+2 allele. No significant increase in the frequency of the putative risk allele Z-2 was found in patients with diabetic nephropathy vs. controls (0.39 vs. 0.36). No association with diabetic retinopathy was found. Although the results of the transmission of the Z-2 and Z+2 alleles in the independent family-based study were consistent with the association study, the number of informative families was limited and thus differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The Z+2 allele of the ALR2 promoter polymorphism is associated with a reduced susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy in Danish Type 1 diabetic patients, suggesting a minor role for the polyol pathway in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease. No association of the ALR2 polymorphism with diabetic retinopathy was found.

Effects of boron foliar applications on vegetative and reproductive growth of sunflower.

Foliar application may be used to supply boron (B) to a crop when B demands are higher than can be supplied via the soil. While B foliar sprays have been used to correct B deficiency in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in the field, no studies have determined the amount of B taken up by sunflower plant parts via foliar application. A study was conducted in which sunflower plants were grown at constant B concentration in nutrient solution with adequate B (46 micro m) or with limited B supply (0.24, 0.40 and 1.72 micro m) using Amberlite IRA-743 resin to control B supply. At the late vegetative stage of growth (25 and 35 d after transplanting), two foliar sprays were applied of soluble sodium tetraborate (20.8 % B) each at 0, 28, 65, 120 and 1200 mm (each spray equivalent to 0, 0.03, 0.07, 0.13 and 1.3 kg B ha-1 in 100 L water ha-1). The highest rate of B foliar fertilization resulted in leaf burn but had no other evident detrimental effect on plant growth. Under B-deficient conditions, B foliar application increased the vegetative and reproductive dry mass of plants. Foliar application of 28-1200 mm B increased the total dry mass of the most B-deficient plants by more than three-fold and that of plants grown initially with 1.72 micro m B in solution by 37-49 %. In this latter treatment, the dry mass of the capitulum was similar to that achieved under control conditions, but in no instance was total plant dry mass similar to that of the control. All B foliar spray rates increased the B concentration in various parts of the plant tops, including those that developed after the sprays were applied, but the B concentration in the roots was not increased by B foliar application. The B concentration in the capitulum of the plants sprayed at the highest rate was between 37 and 93 % of that in the control plants. This study showed that B foliar application was of benefit to B-deficient sunflower plants, increasing the B status of plant tops, including that of the capitulum which developed after the B sprays were applied.

Arterial elastance and wave reflection augmentation of systolic blood pressure: deleterious effects and implications for therapy.

Systolic and pulse blood pressures are stronger predictors of stroke, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure, end-stage renal disease, and cardiovascular mortality than diastolic pressure. Furthermore, diastolic pressure is inversely related to coronary heart disease and cardiovascular mortality. Increased elastance (or stiffness, inverse of compliance) of the central elastic arteries is the primary cause of increased systolic and pulse pressure with advancing age and in patients with cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, and is due to degeneration and hyperplasia of the arterial wall; diastolic pressure decreases as arterial elastance increases. As elastance increases, transmission velocity of both forward and backward (or reflected) traveling waves increases, which causes the reflected wave to arrive earlier in the central aorta and augments pressure in late systole. These changes in arterial wall properties cause an increase in left ventricular afterload and myocardial oxygen consumption and a decrease in myocardial perfusion pressure, which may induce an imbalance in the supply-demand ratio, especially in hypertrophied hearts with coronary artery disease. Also, an increase in systolic pressure increases arterial wall circumferential stress, which promotes fatigue and development of atherosclerosis. Vasodilator drugs have little direct active effect on large elastic arteries but can markedly reduce wave reflection amplitude and augmentation index by decreasing elastance of the muscular arteries and reducing pulse wave velocity of the reflected wave from the periphery to the heart. This decrease in intensity (or amplitude) and increase in travel time (or delay) of the reflected wave causes a generalized decrease in systolic pressure and arterial wall stress and an increase in ascending aortic flow during the deceleration phase. The decrease in systolic pressure brought about by this mechanism is grossly underestimated when systolic pressure is measured in the brachial artery.

Glucocorticoid-induced osteopenia in adolescent heart transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Glucocorticoid-induced cushingoid symptoms, including osteopenia and osteoporosis are well-documented in adult heart transplant recipients (HTR). Bone mineral density (BMD) of the axial skeleton is diminished by 10% to 20% within 60 days after transplantation (Tx) and most adult HTR fulfill World Health Organization criteria for osteoporosis (BMD > 2.5 SD below norm). At present, we do not know whether glucocorticoids have similar deleterious effects in adolescent HTR. METHODS: To determine the consequences of glucocorticoid immunosuppression on regional bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical markers of bone metabolism in adolescent HTR, we studied 19 patients (aged 16 +/- 3) at 19 months (group mean) after Tx. We measured BMD (hydroxyapatite g/cm(2)) of the total body, lumbar spine, and pelvis using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (Lunar). Serum levels of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and pyridinoline cross-links were determined by enzyme immunoassay in serum kits. RESULTS: The BMD of the lumbar spine (-12%), femur neck (-13%), femur trochanter (-12%), and ward's triangle (-16%) were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in adolescent HTR than age- and gender-matched norms. Serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (29 +/- 6 vs 22 +/- 3 U/liter) and pyridinoline cross-links (5.3 +/- 1.1 vs 3.8 +/- 0.7 mmol/liter) were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in adolescent HTR, compared with age- and gender-matched controls studied in our laboratory. CONCLUSIONS: Our cross-sectional results demonstrate that BMD of the axial skeleton in adolescent HTR is significantly lower (-10% to 20%) than age-matched norms and that serum biochemical markers of bone metabolism are significantly elevated, suggesting accelerated bone turnover.

Exercise following heart transplantation.

During the past 2 decades, heart transplantation has evolved from an experimental procedure to an accepted life-extending therapy for patients with endstage heart failure. However, with dramatic improvements in organ preservation, surgery and immunosuppressive drug management, short term survival is no longer the pivotal issue for most heart transplant recipients (HTR). Rather, a return to functional lifestyle with good quality of life is now the desired procedural outcome. To achieve this outcome, aggressive exercise rehabilitation is essential. HTR present unique exercise challenges. Preoperatively, most of these patients had chronic debilitating cardiac illness. Many HTR have had prolonged pretransplantation hospitalisation for inotropic support or a ventricular assist device. Decrements in peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and related cardiovascular parameters regress approximately 26% within the first 1 to 3 weeks of sustained bed rest. Consequently, extremely poor aerobic capacity and cardiac cachexia are not unusual occurrences in HTR who have required mechanical support or been confined to bed rest. Moreover, HTR must also contend with de novo exercise challenges conferred by chronic cardiac denervation and the multiple sequelae resulting from immunosuppression therapy. There is ample evidence that both endurance and resistance training are well tolerated in HTR. Moreover, there is growing clinical consensus that specific endurance and resistance training regimens in HTR can be efficacious adjunctive therapies in the prevention of immunosuppression-induced adverse effects and the reversal of pathophysiological consequences associated with cardiac denervation and antecedent heart failure. For example, some HTR who remain compliant during strenuous long term endurance training programmes achieve peak heart rate and VO2peak values late after transplantation that approach age-matched norms (up to approximately 95% of predicted). These benefits are not seen in HTR who do not participate in structured endurance exercise training. Rather, peak heart rate and VO2peak values in untrained HTR remain approximately 60 to 70% of predicted indefinitely. However, the mechanisms responsible for improved peak heart rate, VO2peak and total exercise time are not completely understood and require further investigation. Recent studies have also demonstrated that resistance exercise training may be an effective countermeasure for corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis and skeletal muscle myopathy. HTR who participate in specific resistance training programmes successfully restore bone mineral density (BMD) in both the axial and appendicular skeleton to pretransplantation levels, increase lean mass to levels greater than pretransplantation, and reduce body fat. In contrast, HTR who do not participate in resistance training lose approximately 15% BMD from the lumbar spine early in the postoperative period and experience further gradual reductions in BMD and muscle mass late after transplantation.

Comparison of standard- and extended-length participation in cardiac rehabilitation on body composition, functional capacity, and blood lipids.

Participation in a standard-length outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) for 3 months is known to result in positive changes in body composition, functional capacity, and blood lipids in patients with coronary artery disease. However, there has been little attempt to compare patients who remain active in a formal CRP for an extended length of >1 year with patients who exit after a standard length of 3 months. Consequently, 50 patients underwent a series of tests including a maximal graded exercise treadmill test, assessment of body composition, and fasting blood lipid analysis, at entry to CRP and after a follow-up period that ranged from 1 to 5 years. All patients participated in a standard multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation program for 3 months. Twenty-five patients discontinued participation after 3 months and received no other contact from the program staff until follow-up, whereas 25 patients remained active in the program until follow-up. After statistically adjusting for baseline differences between the groups, significant differences were observed between the extended- and standard-length groups at follow-up for body weight (177 vs 183 lbs), percent fat (22% vs 24%), METS (10.5 vs 8.4), high-density lipoprotein level cholesterol (44 vs 39 mg/dl), total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein ratio (5.2 vs 6.1), and triglycerides (134 vs 204 mg/dl), respectively. No significant differences in the adjusted means were observed between the groups at follow-up for total cholesterol (209 vs 219 mg/dl) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (136 vs 138 mg/dl). Data from this study demonstrate the efficacy of extended participation in CRP on body composition, functional capacity, and blood lipids. Greater efforts need to be directed at retaining patients in low-cost, center-based maintenance programs and at extending monitoring of patients exiting standard length CRPs.

Effects of early captopril treatment and its removal on plasma angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity and arginine vasopressin in hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive rats (WKY).

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of early administration and removal of the ACE inhibitor, captopril (CAP) on the plasma ACE activity, AVP levels, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in groups of rats, control and CAP treated SHR and WKY (SHR, WKY SHRCAP, WKYCAP, respectively and in SHR taken off CAP (OFFCAP) and their progeny (2nd generation, 2ndG). Plasma ACE activity in SHRCAP (54.8 +/- 2.1 mU/ml/min) was significantly greater than in SHR (25.96 +/- 0.34 mU/ml/min) and their offspring (OFFCAP, 26.32 +/- 2.71 and 2ndG, 17.62 +/- 2.47 mU/ml/min, P < 0.001, respectively). Plasma level of AVP in SHR (14.18 +/- 0.98 pg/ml) were greater than in SHRCAP (9.1 +/- 1.01 pg/ml, P < 0.01). A decrease in plasma AVP levels were also noted in OFFCAP (10.48 +/- 0.51 pg/ml) and their offspring 2ndG (10.34 +/- 0.46 pg/ml). Our results did not show a relationship between plasma ACE activity and blood pressure reduction. However, treatment of SHR with captopril produced a decrease in plasma AVP levels which may participate in its antihypertensive mechanism of action.

Etiology of iliotibial band friction syndrome in distance runners.

The objectives of our study were: 1) to examine differences between a noninjured cohort of runners (N = 70) and runners afflicted with iliotibial band friction syndrome (ITBFS) (N = 56) according to selected anthropometric, biomechanical, muscular strength, and training measures; 2) to explore multivariate relationships among these measures in both the well and injured groups; and 3) to develop specific hypotheses concerning risk factors for injury that will later be tested in a prospective observational study. High speed videography (200 fps), a force platform (500 Hz), and a Cybex II+ isokinetic dynamometer were used to assess rearfoot motion, ground reaction forces, and knee muscular strength and endurance, respectively. A linear discriminant function analysis of the training data revealed weekly mileage, training pace, number of months using current training protocol, % time spent swimming, and % time spent running on a track to be significant (P < 0.10). Height was a significant anthropometric discriminator, while seven isokinetic strength and endurance measures were found to discriminate significantly between the groups. Calcaneal to vertical touchdown angle, and maximum supination velocity were significant rearfoot movement discriminators. Maximum braking force was the only significant kinetic discriminator. A combined discriminant analysis using those variables found to be significant in the previous analyses revealed weekly mileage, and maximum normalized braking force to be the best discriminators (model P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calcium amelioration of aluminium toxicity effects on root hair development in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.].

Low activities of the monomeric aluminium (Al) species, Al3+ , Al(OH)2 + and Al(OH)2+ in solution reduce root growth and root hair development in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Calcium (Ca) ameliorates to a certain extent the toxic effects of Al on root growth, but the interactive effects of Ca and Al on root hair development are not known. In the absence of added Al in solution culture, Ca concentration over the range 500-2000 µM had little effect on root growth or root hair development of soybean cv. Fitzroy. Where the sum of the activities of the monomeric Al species was 2 µM, taproot elongation and lateral root development of soybean was suppressed in solution with 500 µM Ca. The length of the root hair zone was only 10% of that in plants not exposed to Al, and scanning electron microscopy revealed a low density of root hairs. Increasing the Ca concentration to 2000 µM largely overcame these deleterious effects. The results are discussed in relation to the role of root hairs as infection sites for Bradyrhizobium, and the known effects of Al in suppressing nodulation in soybean.

Mycoprotein reduces blood lipids in free-living subjects.

Mycoprotein is a food produced by continuous fermentation of Fusarium graminearum (Schwabe). A previous metabolic study showed that mycoprotein decreased total and low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increased high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of mycoprotein under free-living conditions. Two groups of subjects with slightly raised cholesterol concentrations participated in the 8-wk study. The experimental group was fed cookies containing mycoprotein and the control group was fed a nutrient-balanced cookie without mycoprotein. After 8 wk of treatment total cholesterol was reduced by 0.46 mmol/L in the control group and 0.95 mmol/L in the mycoprotein group, and LDL was reduced by 0.34 mmol/L in the control group and 0.84 mmol/L in the mycoprotein group. All analysis of variance differences were statistically significant. This study confirms the metabolic-study results and we are now relatively confident that mycoprotein exerts a beneficial effect on blood lipids.

Sources and intakes of sodium in the United Kingdom diet.

The amounts of sodium in the average UK diet and the proportions of naturally occurring and added sodium in foods were calculated for the years 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987. The results for total sodium intake from foods were in close agreement with other published sources and the breakdown of the figures revealed that 22 per cent of sodium in foods is naturally occurring and 78 per cent is added. When discretionary salt, used at the table and in cooking, is taken into account the proportions of sodium from various sources are estimated to be: 15 per cent discretionary, 84 per cent from food and approximately 1 per cent from water and medicines. Within the food category 18 per cent is natural, 59 per cent is from added salt and 7 per cent is from non-salt food additives.

Development of a decision algorithm for a semiautomatic defibrillator.

A decision algorithm was developed for a semiautomatic defibrillator. The function of the algorithm is to evaluate the ECG of a patient and determine whether a defibrillation shock should be delivered. The development process included establishment of defibrillation criteria, creation of ECG databases, algorithm design, development of test protocols, and clinical testing. The result was an algorithm with sensitivity and specificity sufficiently accurate to allow a defibrillation shock to be delivered safely outside the hospital.

The nutritional value of rat diets of differing energy and protein levels when subjected to physical processing.

4 diets formulated to contain 8.5, 10.0, 11.5 and 12.5 MJ/kg metabolizable energy and 85, 133, 192 and 250 g/kg of protein respectively were prepared in 3 physical forms: meal, reground pellets or reground expanded and fed to growing rats from 28 to 56 days of age. Food intake was increased by pelleting and expanding in lower energy diets, whereas these differences tended to disappear in the higher energy diets. Growth and food conversion efficiencies showed a similar pattern, with the greatest differences evident in the low energy diets. Male rats showed greater differences than females in all parameters measured. Expanding the diet improved the microbiological status over pelleting both being superior to unprocessed meal. Measurements of digestible and metabolizable energy values of the 8.5 and 12.5 MJ/kg diets revealed consistent decreases in energy availability following processing. This suggested that the observed growth responses were due mainly to increased food intake coupled with increased nitrogen retention.

The availability to the rat of energy from various diet ingredients.

The digestible and metabolizable energy values of 8 ingredients commonly used in laboratory animal diets were determined using the growing male rat, by the total collection method. Each ingredient was incorporated into a basal diet of maize, wheat, soyabean meal and fishmeal. The metabolizable energy values, on a dry matter basis, corrected to the nitrogen retention of the basal diet for rats per 100 g bodyweight were as follows: maize 15.23 MJ/kg, extracted soyabean meal 14.11 MJ/kg, barley 12.31 MJ/kg, wheat 14.09 MJ/kg, oatfeed 1.36 MJ/kg, white fishmeal 11.61 MJ/kg, dried skimmed milk 14.32 MJ/kg, casein 17.91 MJ/kg. Additional analytical data for the 8 ingredients are also given.