Development of clay liquid detergent for Islamic cleansing and the stability study.

Clay liquid detergents (CLDs) were developed for cleansing religiously-prohibited dirt ('najis') according to Islamic law. Four types of clay were selected: marl, kaolin, bentonite and veegum. After product development trials, five CLD formulations with varying combinations of clays were qualified for stability testing. Three exaggerated temperature conditions were considered: 4 degrees C for 24 h, 50 degrees C for 7 days, and 40 degrees C for 1 month. The CLDs were also evaluated at 30, 60 and 90 days after production, while being stored at room temperature (RT30, RT60 and RT90). Physical and chemical characteristics including pH, colour, viscosity, surface tension, foam tests and sensory liking scores were evaluated. Our results showed that the kaolin-based formula, F2, had an optimal pH (closest to skin pH) of 5.08. The other formulas ranged from pH 6 to 8. Colour shades of the CLDs ranged from white, to creamy white, to mildly greenish-white. The foaming properties of the CLDs, the means +/- SD of foam heights at 0 and 5 min, using the Ross-Miles test, were 19.13 +/- 0.25 to 20.88 +/- 0.45 cm at RT90 and were comparable with those of commercial detergents. Foam stability of all CLDs was high, as shown from the foam heights between 0 and 5 min being not significantly different (P > 0.05). The surface tensions, means +/- SD, of CLD solutions were between 27.94 +/- 0.08 and 28.72 +/- 0.04 mN m(-1), which were slightly better than the surface tension of 29.08 +/- 0.04 mN m(-1) for sodium lauryl sulphate. There was a weak negative relationship between surface activity and foam height, based on the pooled data of the CLDs (R(2) = 0.209, P < 0.01). The viscosity of four CLDs ranged from 16 317 to 49 036 mPa s. In conclusion, CLDs can be formulated with good stability. F2 (kaolin-based, with a white, creamy texture) was the best CLD formula. It had the highest surface activity, moderate lathering and pleasant physical appearance.

Effects of n-3 fatty acids on serum interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor p55 in active rheumatoid arthritis.

We investigated the effects of a low n-6 fatty acid (FA) diet supplemented with fish oil on serum pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations and clinical variables in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Sixty patients were randomly assigned to receive a diet low in n-6 FAs and n-3 FAs supplement (fish oil group), a diet low in n-6 FAs and placebo (placebo group), or no special diet or intervention (control group). Serum cytokines and clinical and biochemical variables were evaluated at baseline and various timepoints. At week 18 the fish oil group had significant reductions in linoleic acid, C-reactive protein (CRP) and soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor p55 (sTNF-R p55), and significant elevations in eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid compared with baseline. There were no significant differences in the clinical variables between the three groups. At week 24 there were significant reductions in interleukin-6 and TNF-alpha in the fish oil and placebo groups. Supplementation with n-3 FA and a low n-6 FA intake decreased serum sTNF-R p55 and CRP levels in patients with RA.

Impediment of the progressions of microalbuminuria and hyperlipidemia in normotensive type 2 diabetes by low-dose ramipril.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we investigated in normotensive type 2 diabetics with microalbuminuria the effect of ramipril, an ACE inhibitor, on urine albumin excretion and serum lipids. A total of 1,882 patients were screened for urine microalbumin consecutively by dipstick test, Rapi Tex-Albumin test and RIA. The final 28 normotensive and microalbuminuric patients were assigned to receive either ramipril (1.25 mg/d, n = 16) or placebo (n = 12) for 12 weeks. Throughout the study, both groups had no changes in blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1C, serum creatinine and electrolytes and no difference in creatinine clearance. At week 12 only the placebo group showed the significant increment of urine albumin excretion and triacylglycerol (30.6 +/- 38.3 to 39.0 +/- 19.7 and 167 +/- 64 to 208 +/- 77 mg/dl, respectively) but the decrement of HDL-cholesterol (46 +/- 16 to 35 +/- 6 mg/dl). During a 3 month period, increased urine albumin excretion was observed in normotensive type 2 diabetes with microalbuminuria who received only placebo. We conclude that ramipril may arrest the progression of albumin excretion and had favorable effects on serum lipids. Ramipril was safe and well-tolerated without untoward side effects during the study period.

Fish meal lecithin as alternative precursor of docosahexaenoate and choline.

Choline and docosahexaenoate (DHA) are essential nutrients for maintaining normal brain function. However, their existence in fish lecithin is ignored and excluded during the degumming step of conventional fish oil manufacturing process. The study aims to introduce fish lecithin as alternative precursor of choline and omega-3 fatty acids especially DHA for nutritional supplements. Four grades of Thai fish meals with protein contents ranging from 60-70% were used. Their lipid characteristics were examined. Fish meal's fats and lecithin were 9-15 and 2-3 g/100 g, respectively. Total fatty acids constitute 23-27% monoenes without erucic acid and 24-28% polyenes including 15-19% DHA. Lecithin with 50% purity was prepared from grade-1 fish meal by means of consecutive methanol/n-hexane/acetone extraction. The obtained lecithin contains choline upto 66-70 mole% with DHA reaches to 20-23%. Its peroxide value of 57 and acid value of 9 are accepted for food grade lecithin preparation, however, the further refinery process is still suggested. Since the world consumption of nutritional supplement foods is increasing steadily, the results of our study implies that fish lecithin is probably a promising source of choline and omega-3 fatty acids especially DHA for such an objective.

Intravascular metabolism of different fatty acids during lipid infusion in man.

The differential intravascular metabolism of individual fatty acids contained in triacylglycerol-rich particles was studied by infusing 6 normal subjects for 5h with a conventional soy-based emulsion and an experimental olive oil-based emulsion. Both emulsions contained similar amounts of palmitate (11%) and stearate (3-4%) but the former was quite rich in linoleate (54%) and alpha-linolenate (7%), while the latter was rich in oleate (69%). During hydrolysis of circulating triacylglycerols by endothelial lipases, the associated rise of non-esterified fatty acids (FFA) in plasma represents the balance between fatty acid release and tissue uptake. Plasma levels of triacylglycerols and FFA increased about 3 fold and total body fat oxidation was raised to similar values with both emulsions. Fatty acid pattern quickly changed in plasma triacylglycerols to resemble the composition of emulsion particles, with an exception for palmitate which increased markedly more, suggesting a high level of hepatic re-esterification and re-appearance in nascent very low density lipoprotein triglycerides (VLDL-TG) secreted into the circulation. In plasma FFA, stearate and palmitate increased more and alpha-linolenate much less than expected from their content in the emulsion, indicating probably low tissue uptake for the former ones but avid removal for the latter.

Modification of erythrocyte membrane lipid composition induced by a single intravenous infusion of phospholipid-triacylglycerol emulsions in man.

The study aimed to investigate whether, during short term infusion of lipid emulsions in man, red blood cell (RBC) membrane lipid composition was altered and RBC-free cholesterol (FC) could serve as a source of FC accumulated in the plasma. 3 normal subjects were infused intravenously with either 10% Intralipid [10% IL; PL:triglyceride (TG) weight ratio of 0.12] at the rates of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 g TG.kg(-1).h(-1) (providing PL intakes of 12, 24, 36 mg.kg(-1).h(-1), respectively) or with 30% Intralipid (30% IL; PL:TG ratio of 0.04) at the rate of 0.3 g TG.kg(-1).h(-1) (providing 12 mg PL.kg(-1).h(-1)). Infusion of 10% IL at a slow rate and 30% IL at a high rate caused no change in RBC and plasma FC content. However, 10% IL infusion at intermediate and high rates induced a significant decrease in RBC-FC: PL ratio. This change was still present at 18 h after the cessation of high rate infusion. RBC-FC: PL ratio and plasma PL measured during infusion were significantly correlated (r = -0.87, p < 0.001). FC efflux from RBC appears to contribute to the rise in plasma FC. This study indicates that the excessive amount of PL present as liposomes in some intravenous lipid emulsions can alter erythrocyte membrane lipid composition.

Effects of essential fatty acid contents of lipid emulsions on erythrocyte polyunsaturated fatty acid composition in patients on long-term parenteral nutrition.

The effect of the long-term intravenous infusion of 2 lipid emulsions, differing in essential fatty acid (EFA) content, on fatty acid pattern of red blood cell (RBC) was investigated in 5 patients with inflammatory bowel disease. They were randomly assigned to receive daily intravenous infusion of either a soybean emulsion or a mixed medium-chain triacyl-glycerols (MCT): soybean emulsion, followed by the other, each for a period of 3 months. The soybean emulsion contained exclusively long-chain triacylglycerols (LCT) with 54% of C18:2n-6 and 6% of C18:3n-3. The mixed emulsion consisted of a 50:50 (w:w) mixture of soybean LCT and MCT, providing half the amount of the same EFA compared to LCT emulsion. The same phospholipid emulsifier was used in both preparations. Infusion of LCT for a 3 month period modified RBC fatty acid pattern as follows: 18:2n-6 increased, 20:4n-6 decreased as well as n-6:n-3 ratio. By contrast, infusion of MCT/LCT did not alter RBC fatty acids, and even tended to correct a pattern altered by the previous LCT infusion. The study demonstrates that soybean LCT provides an excess of C18: 2n-6 which affects the balance between RBC fatty acids in adult patients. Decreasing the intake of C18:2n-6 and C18: 3n-3, by using a mixed MCT/LCT emulsion, appears more appropriate for keeping a balanced pattern.

[Parenterally administered medium-chain triglyceride-induced changes in carnitine metabolism]. / Parenteral verabreichte mittelkettige Triglyzeride induzieren Veränderungen im Carnitin-Stoffwechsel.

Medium-chain triglycerides are generally assumed to be metabolized independently of carnitine. The effects of infusing medium-chain triglycerides on plasma concentrations of carnitine derivatives and beta-hydroxybutyrate was studied in four healthy male adults. Glucose and amino acids were infused alone for three hours, then continued for another 5.5 hours together with a lipid emulsion containing only long-chain triglycerides or a mixture of medium-chain and long-chain triglycerides (50:50; w/w). During the fat-free infusion, the concentration of free carnitine rose, while the level of acylcarnitines decreased. Infusion of the mixed emulsion over 5.5 hours reduced free carnitine to lower values (32.4 +/- 4.7 mumols/L) than long-chain triglycerides infusion (44.4 +/- 2.7 mumols/L). By contrast, the plasma concentrations of short-chain acylcarnitines (12.1 +/- 3.3 vs. 5.4 +/- 1.9 mumols/L; p less than 0.01) and of beta-hydroxybutyrate (93 +/- 32 vs. 47 +/- 14 mumols/L; p less than 0.01) became significantly higher with the mixed emulsion than with long-chain triglycerides. These findings suggest that oxidation of medium-chain fatty acids is to some extent carnitine-dependent, whether or not transport into mitochondria is carnitine-mediated.

Stabilisation of plasma substrate concentrations: A model for conducting metabolic studies.

Metabolic studies involving changes in plasma substrate concentrations are frequently carried out after an overnight fast. This condition, however, is a transition between the post-prandial period and the beginning of starvation, and thus is associated with rapid changes in the plasma concentration of many substrates. Such alterations might interfere with the interpretation of modifications in plasma concentrations resulting from experimental manipulations. Infusion of glucose at a rate of 250 mg kg(-1) h(-1) for 1h and subsequently at 162 mg kg(-1) h(-1) together with amino-acids at 50 mg kg(-1) h(-1) is used to stabilise the plasma concentration of most substrates within 3 h, a condition which is maintained for the subsequent 5 h or more. This study offers a model which is more suitable for many metabolic investigations than overnight fasting and which takes little time or expense to prepare.

Medium-chain triglycerides induce alterations in carnitine metabolism.

Medium-chain triglycerides are generally assumed to be metabolized independently of carnitine. The effects of infusing medium-chain triglycerides on plasma concentrations of carnitine derivatives and beta-hydroxybutyrate were studied in four healthy male adults. Glucose and amino acids were infused alone for 3 h, then continued for another 5.5 h together with a lipid emulsion containing only long-chain triglycerides or a 50:50% (wt/wt) mixture of medium-chain and long-chain triglycerides. During the fat-free infusion, the concentration of free carnitine rose, whereas the level of acylcarnitines decreased. Infusion of the mixed emulsion over 5.5 h reduced free carnitine to lower values (32.4 +/- 4.7 mumols/l) than long-chain triglycerides infusion (44.4 +/- 2.7 mumol/l). By contrast, the plasma concentrations of short-chain acylcarnitine (12.1 +/- 3.3 vs. 5.4 +/- 1.9 mumols/l; P less than 0.01) and of beta-hydroxybutyrate (93 +/- 32 vs. 47 +/- 14 mumols/l; P less than 0.01) became significantly higher with the mixed emulsion than with long-chain triglycerides. This suggests that intravenous medium-chain triglycerides are not metabolized independently of carnitine. Carnitine may play an important role in removing acyl and acetyl groups from mitochondria and in restoring the intramitochondrial CoA level. Fat substrates are converted into compounds that might be utilized by tissues that do not normally oxidize fatty acids, creating an interorgan energy cycle.

Plasma lipid and plasma lipoprotein concentrations in low birth weight infants given parenteral nutrition with twenty or ten percent lipid emulsion.

Because 10% and 20% intravenously administered lipid emulsions (intralipid preparations) differ in their phospholipid/triglyceride ratio (0.12 and 0.06, respectively), 28 low birth weight infants requiring parenteral nutrition for at least 1 week were selected at random to receive either emulsion to determine the effects on plasma lipids and lipoproteins. Triglyceride intake was progressively increased to reach 2 gm/kg per day between days 4 and 7. During that period, all plasma lipids in samples taken 6 hours after infusion were higher in the 10% intralipid group. In comparison with day 0 values, triglyceride concentrations decreased (63 +/- 7 to 45 +/- 4 mg/dl; p less than 0.05) in the 20% group. Cholesterol levels increased in both groups, but the rise was more than twofold higher in the 10% group. Phospholipid increase was approximately 25% in the 20% group but more than 125% in patients receiving the 10% emulsion (p less than 0.005). The changes in plasma cholesterol and phospholipid levels were almost entirely in low-density lipoproteins. After 7 days, eight infants from each group were given the alternate emulsion, which resulted in a reversal of lipid patterns in each patient. We conclude that the higher phospholipid intake in 10% than in 20% intralipid is associated with higher plasma triglyceride concentrations and leads to accumulation of cholesterol and phospholipids in low-density lipoproteins. Emulsions with lower phospholipid content may be preferable for low birth weight infants and perhaps other patient populations with impaired removal of parenteral fat emulsions.

Interactions between exogenous fat and plasma/lipoproteins.

Fat emulsions are essentially composed of triglycerides and phospholipids. Their elimination from the plasma--which is generally rapid--is influenced by the amount and the composition of both these components. During their short stay in the vascular compartment, exogenous particles undergo major compositional changes. They acquire various apolipoproteins--namely C-II, C-III, E and A-IV--by transfer from HDL. They also acquire esterified cholesterol from HDL and LDL and transfer exogenous triglycerides and phospholipids to these endogenous lipoproteins. These exchanges are affected by the type of triglyceride fatty acids and the amount of phospholipids present in fat emulsions, as well as by the infusion rate. Some 10% of emulsions--with a high phospholipid: triglyceride ratio--contain a huge phospholipid excess which can be isolated as a separate fraction from the triglyceride-rich particles. These phospholipids markedly interfere with the metabolism of cholesterol and the plasma lipoprotein profile.