Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, cholesterol, hemoglobin, and anthropometric measures related to growth in male adolescents.

Sixty-four white boys between 10.6 and 14.3 years old participated in an adolescent nutrition assessment study evaluating dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) as a measure of maturation. DHEAS, an adrenal androgen, is low in childhood and rises with the development of secondary sexual characteristics. Biochemical measures included plasma DHEAS assessed by radioimmunoassay, cholesterol assessed by an enzymatic method, and hemoglobin assessed by the cyanmethemoglobin method. Midarm muscle area (MAMA) was calculated from midarm circumference and triceps fatfold measurements. DHEAS was correlated significantly with height, weight, MAMA, and hemoglobin. By age, significant differences were found for height, weight, and MAMA, but not for any of the biochemical measures. For boys with DHEAS concentration less than 3 mumol/L, values for height, weight, body mass index, MAMA, and hemoglobin were significantly different from those for boys with higher DHEAS concentrations. No significant differences were found for age or nutrient intakes by DHEAS concentration groups. Mean plasma cholesterol concentrations decreased with increases in age and with maturation evidenced by higher DHEAS concentration. Cholesterol concentration was negatively correlated with height and MAMA. Mean nutrient intakes estimated by a quantitative food frequency questionnaire met or exceeded the Recommended Dietary Allowances for these age groups. DHEAS identified maturation differences in male adolescents.

Iron, copper, and zinc status: response to supplementation with zinc or zinc and iron in adult females.

Response of iron, copper, and zinc status to supplementation with Zn or a combination of Zn and Fe was assessed in adult females in a 10-wk study. Group Z received 50 mg Zn/d as Zn gluconate; group F-Z received 50 mg Fe as ferrous sulfate monohydrate in addition to the Zn. For Group Z, serum ferritin, hematocrit, and erythrocyte Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (ESOD) were significantly lower (p less than 0.05) after 10 wk supplementation compared with pretreatment levels. Serum Zn increased (p less than 0.01) but no change occurred in serum ceruloplasmin, hemoglobin, or salivary sediment Zn with treatment. For Group F-Z ESOD decreased with treatment as did salivary sediment Zn (p less than 0.05). Serum ferritin and serum Zn increased significantly, but hemoglobin, hematocrit, and ceruloplasmin were not affected by this treatment. Supplementation with Zn poses a risk to Fe and Cu status. Inclusion of Fe with Zn ameliorates the effect on Fe but not on Cu status.

Dietary fiber effects on passage rate and breath hydrogen.

Fermentation of fiber and passage to the large intestine were monitored by measuring hydrogen gas (H2) concentration in expired breath. Five subjects consumed meals containing no added fiber or 40 g of wheat bran (WB), corn bran (CB), oat bran (OB), or citrus flour (CF) replacing white flour. Breath samples were obtained at 30 min intervals for 9 h after the test meals. Mean H2 concentration (ppm), averaged over the 9 h test period, ranged from 7.5 (CB) to 12.0 (OB) and tended to increase with addition of OB, CF, or WB but decrease with addition of CB. Hours from the meal to the highest H2 peaks were 4.7 (WB), 5.6 (CB), 6.2 (OB), 6.4 (CF), and 8.2 (basal). The gel-like fibers (OB and CF) resulted in greater H2 concentration and less acceleration of passage rate than the particulate fibers (WB and CB).

Nutrient quality and acceptability of mechanically deboned meat.

The meat processing industry has great incentive to push for the lifting of the ban on MDM. By using MDM equipment, much meat now being lost could be salvaged for human consumption with great economies and world food shortage implications. The properties of mechanically deboned meat vary with the percentage of bone and marrow in the original products, the equipment, and by other factors. The question of future use of MDM hinges on its readmission to the market, based on safety and health aspects. Dietiticians and others in health care service may be asked to give an opinion concerning the use of MDM. Consideration of the possible addition of nutrients over and above those usually supplied in meats may be a positive factor. Certainly, if its use is reinstated, health care professionals will need to be aware of the implications of including such products in the foods chosen for themselves and their patients.