Dark adaptation, motor skills, docosahexaenoic acid, and dyslexia.

Dyslexia is a widespread condition characterized by difficulty with learning and movement skills. It is frequently comorbid with dyspraxia (developmental coordination disorder), the chief characteristic of which is impaired movement skills, indicating that there may be some common biological basis to the conditions. Visual and central processing deficits have been found. The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are important components of retinal and brain membranes. In the preliminary studies reported here, dark adaptation was shown to be impaired in 10 dyslexic young adults when compared with a similar control group (P < 0.05, repeated-measures analysis of variance); dark adaptation improved in 5 dyslexia patients after supplementation with a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich fish oil for 1 mo (P < 0.05, paired t test on final rod threshold); and movement skills in a group of 15 dyspraxic children improved after 4 mo of supplementation with a mixture of high-DHA fish oil, evening primrose oil, and thyme oil (P < 0.007 for manual dexterity, P < 0.02 for ball skills, and P < 0.03 for static and dynamic balance; paired t tests). The studies were small and had designs that did not allow firm conclusions to be made. However, when considered with other evidence from another closely related condition, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, for which reduced ability to elongate and desaturate the essential fatty acids linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid to arachidonic acid and DHA, respectively, has been proposed, the studies suggest that more research, including double-blind, placebo-controlled studies, would be useful to clarify the benefits of LCPUFAs in dyslexia and other closely related conditions.

Weight gain, thermic effect of glucose and resting metabolic rate during recovery from anorexia nervosa.

Rate of weight gain, together with metabolic rate before and after a glucose meal, were studied in a group of 15 female anorexia nervosa patients as their weight was being restored to normal levels. The previously obese anoretic patients gained weight more rapidly, on the same food intake, than those who were of normal weight before their illness began. The increase in metabolic rate (as treatment progressed) was less in the previously obese patients, who also showed a tendency for the metabolic rate to increase less after a glucose meal than the patients with no history of obesity. The thermic effect of glucose was greater in patients with anorexia nervosa than in a comparable control group of six female students.

Healthy eating for infants--mothers' actions.

The aim of this study was to analyse the nutrient composition, with respect to energy density, protein, fat, carbohydrate, non-starch polysaccharides and certain micronutrients, of home-prepared infant foods and to compare the nutrient composition with the draft European Commission directive for baby foods, the published nutrient content of manufactured baby foods, and with breast milk. Two hundred and sixty-five samples of home-prepared weaning foods for infants aged 3-12 months were collected and chemically analysed. Many of the food samples were low in energy, protein, fat, iron, calcium and zinc and high in non-starch polysaccharides and sodium. Home-prepared weaning foods have some shortcomings in terms of nutrient composition. Advice from health care professionals needs to focus on these areas at the same time as presenting the nutritional merits of manufactured baby foods.

Healthy eating for infants--mothers' attitudes.

Mothers' perceptions of desirable nutritional practices in infant feeding were examined using a questionnaire consisting of open and closed questions. A total of 1004 mother-infant pairs were recruited from a mixture of urban and rural areas in England. The sample represented a cross-section of socioeconomic groups and educational backgrounds. Mothers' attitudes to healthy eating for infants revealed some misconceptions; 83% felt that a high fibre intake was important or very important and 87% that a low fat intake was important or very important, while 20% considered that plenty of calories was not important. Other health guidelines were appropriately applied and most mothers considered a wide variety of foods, plenty to drink and a low sugar and salt intake to be important. These beliefs were representative of the sample population, irrespective of the socioeconomic group, location, age and education of the mother.