Consumption of a whey protein-enriched diet may prevent hepatic steatosis associated with weight gain in elderly women.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Protein consumption has been associated with cardio-metabolic benefits, including weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity, and may have potential benefits for individuals with fatty liver disease (FLD). We investigated the effect of increasing dietary protein intake from whey relative to carbohydrate on hepatic steatosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: A two-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 30 g/day whey protein-supplemented beverage (protein) or an energy-matched low-protein high-carbohydrate beverage (control) for cardio-metabolic and bone health in 219 healthy elderly women, recruited from the Western Australian general population. Hepatic steatosis was quantified using computed tomographic liver-to-spleen (L/S) ratio. FLD was defined as liver-to-spleen difference <10 Hounsfield units. At baseline, FLD prevalence was 11.4%. Control and protein groups were similar in body mass index (BMI), insulin resistance, L/S ratio and FLD prevalence at baseline. At two-years, dietary protein increased by 20 g in the protein, but not the control, group. Total energy intake and physical activity remained similar between groups. At two-years, BMI and FLD prevalence increased in both groups, with no between group differences. L/S ratio increased in control, but not protein, group at two-years, with no between group differences. In a within group comparison, change in BMI correlated with changes in L/S ratio in control (r = 0.37, P = 0.0007), but not with protein group (r = 0.04, P = 0.73). CONCLUSION: Increasing dietary protein intake from whey relative to carbohydrate does not reduce weight, hepatic steatosis or the prevalence of FLD in elderly women. However, it may prevent worsening of hepatic steatosis associated with weight gain. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (Registration no. ACTRN012607000163404).

Isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for simultaneous identification and quantification of beta-casomorphin 5 and beta-casomorphin 7 in yoghurt.

A highly selective and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the simultaneous identification and quantification of beta-casomorphin 5 (BCM5) and beta-casomorphin 7 (BCM7) in yoghurt. The method used deuterium labelled BCM5-d10 and BCM7-d10 as surrogate standards for confident identification and accurate and quantification of these analytes in yoghurt. Linear responses for BCM5 and BCM7 (R(2)=0.9985 and 0.9986, respectively) was observed in the range 0.01-10ng/µL. The method limits of detection (MLDs) in yoghurt extracts were found to be 0.5 and 0.25ng/g for BCM5 and BCM7, respectively. Analyses of spiked samples were used to provide confirmation of accuracy and precision of the analytical method. Recoveries relative to the surrogate standards of these spikes were in the range of 95-106% for BCM5 and 103-109% for BCM7. Precision from analysis of spiked samples was expressed as relative standard deviation (%RSD) and values were in the range 1-16% for BCM5 and 1-6% for BCM7. Inter-day reproducibility was between 2.0-6.4% for BCM5 and between 3.2-6.1% for BCM7. The validated isotope dilution LC-MS/MS method was used to measure BCM5 and BCM7 in ten commercial and laboratory prepared samples of yoghurt and milk. Neither BCM5 nor BCM7 was detected in commercial yoghurts. However, they were observed in milk and laboratory prepared yoghurts and interestingly their levels decreased during processing. BCM5 decreased from 1.3ng/g in milk to 1.1ng/g in yoghurt made from that milk at 0day storage and

Under-reporting of energy intake in elderly Australian women is associated with a higher body mass index.

OBJECTIVES: Identify the extent of under-reporting of energy intake and the characteristics associated with implausible intakes in elderly women. DESIGN: Dietary intake was assessed using a 3-day weighed food record. Protein intake was validated by 24-hour urinary nitrogen. To examine under-reporting, participants were grouped according to their energy intake and compared to the Goldberg cut-off equation. Logistic regression was performed to assess the influence of body mass index (BMI) and social-demographic factors on under-reporting. SETTING: Community dwelling elderly women from Perth, Western Australia. PARTICIPANTS: 217 elderly women aged 70-80 years. RESULTS: Under-reporters had a higher physical activity level (p<0.001) compared with acceptable-reporters. The under-reporters also had a higher body weight (p=0.006), body mass index (BMI) (p=0.001), waist (p=0.011), hip circumference (p<0.001), whole body fat mass (p<0.001) and percentage body fat (p<0.001) than acceptable-reporters. Under-reporters had a significantly lower intakes of protein, fat, carbohydrate and alcohol (p<0.001) and fewer reported food items, compared with acceptable reporters. However, 24-hour urinary nitrogen was only marginally different between the two groups (p=0.053). Participants with a higher BMI were more likely to under-report their energy intake (BMI=25-29.9: odds ratio=2.98[95% CI=1.46-6.09]; BMI≥30: 5.84[2.41-14.14]). CONCLUSION: Under-reporting energy intake in elderly women was associated with a higher BMI, body fat and higher self-reported physical activity levels. A higher BMI (≥25) appears to be most significant factor in determining if elderly women will underreport their food intake and may be related to body image. These results have implications for undertaking surveys of food intake in elderly women.

Effects of incorporating germinated brown rice on the antioxidant properties of wheat flour chapatti.

Brown rice after germinating for 24 and 48 h was milled into flour and incorporated in whole wheat flour at a level of 10% to prepare chapattis. The objective was to use chapatti as a delivery vehicle for germinated brown rice. The flour blends and chapattis made from the flour blends were evaluated for their antioxidant properties. Incorporating germinated brown rice flour increased the total phenolic content of the flour blend from 1897 to 2144 µg FAE/g. The total flavonoids content increased significantly from 632.3 to1770.9 µg CAE/g and metal chelating activity significantly increased by 71.62%. Antioxidant activity increased significantly by the addition of brown rice flour and addition of 24- and 48-h germinated brown rice flour further increased the antioxidant activity significantly. The total phenolic content and total flavonoids content decrease significantly in all the blends after baking the flour into chapatti. A decrease of 3% to 29% was observed in the total phenolic content and a decrease of 25% to 42% was observed in the total flavonoids content. However, baking of the flour blends into chapatti increased the reducing power, metal chelating activity by three folds and antioxidant activity from 64% to 104%.

Measurement of milk color and composition: effect of dietary intervention on Western Australian Holstein-Friesian cow's milk quality.

Milk fat whiteness is the key to the uniqueness of Western Australian milk. Following a controlled feeding regime, milk was collected fortnightly for 6 mo from 2 treatment groups: dryland and irrigation. The results showed that it was possible to produce high-quality milk with whiter fat by a controlled feeding regime and diet while maintaining the health of Holstein-Friesian cows. The reflectance method using infinite optical thickness showed milk fat color differences due to feed could be measured. After 8 wk of the study, milk fat from the dryland treatment was significantly whiter (P < 0.05) than the irrigation treatment with area under curve total reflectance of 902.8 and 838.3, respectively. The official Japanese industry method, Agriculture and Livestock Industries Corp. (ALIC) butter tone, showed that from the 2nd to the 5th collections the color of milk fat from cows fed silage and grain (dryland treatment) was significantly whiter (P < 0.01) with an average butter tone of 0.15 absorbance per gram compared to cows fed green pasture and grain (irrigation treatment) with a butter tone of 0.21 absorbance per gram. Protein and riboflavin levels also affect the whiteness of milk. The study followed the main feeding protocol of dryland dairies and suggests the majority of milk from Western Australia would receive a grade 1 classification, as dryland dairies dominate supply.