Nutritional Profile of Local and Western Fast Foods Consumed in Bahrain

The aim of this study was to determine the proximate, mineral, and vitamin content of 16 commonly consumed fast foods (local and Western-based) in Bahrain. Samples were collected from several food outlets in Manama city, the capital of Bahrain, and analyzed using standard methods. In general, the findings revealed that local fast foods had higher cholesterol and energy content (ranging from 0–118 mg and 762–1796 kJ/100 g, respectively) compared to Western fast foods (ranging from 11–34 mg/100 g and 980–1172 kJ/100 g, respectively). Protein content was higher in most of the local fast foods compared to the Western fast foods (5.8–30.4 g/100 g and 10.3–17.9 g/100 g, respectively). Most of the minerals were higher in local fast foods, but calcium (16–153 mg/100 g) and phosphorous (54–273 mg/100 g) were higher in Western fast foods. Some of these foods had considerable levels of vitamin B₆ (0.03–0.25 mg/100 g), vitamin B₁₂ (0.1–2.3 μg/100 g), folacin (9.0–106 μg/100 g), and niacin (1.0–12.1 mg/100 g), while the rest of the vitamins were present to a lesser extent. Fat, energy, and sodium levels were also higher in local fast foods. It is evident that the conception that local fast foods are healthier than Western-based fast foods is inappropriate. Hence, nutrition education programmes need to focus on the nutritional aspects of both local and Western fast foods.     

Fatty Acid Composition of Serum Lipid Fractions in Relation to Gender and Quality of Dietary Fat

The fatty acid compositions of serum lipid fractions are believed to reflect the quality of dietary fat, but only a few cross-sectional studies have examined these relationships in a representative free-living population. We related the composition of dietary fat obtained by 7-day food records from 84 free-living middle-aged married couples, on their habitual diets, to gas chromatographic analyses of the percentage compositions of fatty acids in three lipid fractions of fasting sera. Dietary polyunsaturated fat had Pearson's correlation coefficients of 0.63, 0.73 and 0.44 with n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in serum cholesteryl esters, triglycerides and phospholipids, respectively. Intake of fish showed correlations of 0.60, 0.36 and 0.52 with the percentage of eicosapentaenoate in the respective fractions. Dietary saturated fat had correlations of 0.57 and 0.54 with saturated fatty acids in serum cholesteryl esters and triglycerides, respectively. Dietary monounsaturated fat did not correlate positively with mono-unsaturated fatty acids in any serum lipid fraction. There were some small but significant gender differences in the serum fatty acid compositions. Conclusions: of the three serum lipid fractions, triglycerides appear to be the best reflectors of dietary polyunsaturated and saturated fat, but the intake of monounsaturated fat is poorly reflected in all serum lipid fractions. Intake of fish is mirrored in all serum lipid fractions, best in cholesteryl esters and phospholipids.     

Age-related changes of water and fat content in muscles estimated by magnetic resonance (MR) imagine

The pixel values in fat/water suppression magnetic resonance (MR) images were measured for the thigh muscles of 18 healthy volunteers to investigate age-related changes in muscle water and fat content. Prior to the human studies the reproducibility of the data was confirmed using phantoms. The standard deviations (SDs) of the pixel values for one of the phantoms examined five times were found to be within a relatively narrow range. Both the pixel values in the fat suppression images (PV1) and the pixel values in the water suppression images (PV2) of all muscles tended to be higher in the oldest group. The results indicate that the water and fat content of skeletal muscles is higher in aged persons. Moreover, the PV1 in the non-dominant limbs was found to be increased in the extensor muscles of the knee joints, while the PV2 in the non-dominant limbs did not show a significant difference, except for the rectus femoris.     

Diagnosis of Fat Absorption with 14C-Tripalmitate/3H-Palmitic Acid

In 44 normal subjects, in 89 patients with chronic pancreatitis, of whom 23 had elevated faecal fat, and in 19 patients with various diseases of the small gut investigations with ¹⁴C-tripalmitate and ³H-palmitic acid, dissolved in 1.0 g Indian corn oil/kg, were performed. Serum lipid activity of ¹⁴C and ³H was measured 4. 6. and 8 h later. Compared with absolute values of triglyceride absorption (percentage dose of ¹⁴C-lipid activity/l serum), relative values (¹⁴C/³H ratio of the serum lipids) led to a significantly better discrimination between the control group and patients, attributable to a much smaller normal range. Compared with fatty acid absorption, triglyceride absorption was lowered in all cases of pancreatic steatorrhoea, in most cases of chronic pancreatitis, and in some cases of intestinal malabsorption. While the proposed procedure seems to be sensitive and reliable in the detection of maldigestion, a distinction between maldigestion and malabsorption is apparently uncertain.     

飞行员脂肪负荷餐后红细胞聚集性变化的动态分析

目的 观察脂肪负荷餐后富含甘油三酯的脂蛋白（TRL）和红细胞聚集性的动态变化。方法 50名飞行员分为试验组和对照组，每组25人，试验组在定量进食早餐的基础上加服脂肪负荷餐；对照组仅定量进食早餐。空腹及餐后3和8h各测定甘油三酯（TG）和高密度脂蛋白－胆固醇（HDL－C）水平，同时测定4项红细胞参数和4项红细胞聚集参数。结果 与空腹水平相比，试验组餐后3h TG升高、HDL－C降低（P＜0.01)。餐后8h TG恢复至空腹水平（P＞0.05)，但HDL－C未升至空腹水平（P＜0.01)。与空腹测定值相比，试验组餐后3和8h红细胞比容和4项红细胞聚集参数增高（P＜0.01或P＜0.05)。对照组空腹、餐后3和8h上述指标差异无显著性意义（P＞0.05)。结论 脂肪负荷餐后在高TG／低HDL－C血症的同时，存在红细胞聚集力增强，延续时间更长。     

Coffee and tea consumption, dietary fat intake and serum cholesterol concentration of Finnish men and women

The association between the consumption of coffee and tea and serum cholesterol concentration was studied in a population sample of 653 men and 695 women from east and south-west Finland. Cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were determined from fresh serum samples. Smoking and the intake of coffee, tea and alcohol were assessed by a questionnaire, and nutrient intake was determined from 3-day food records. Serum cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol showed a positive and linear association with coffee consumption in men. In women, no such significant linear association was evident, although the highest mean serum cholesterol levels were found in subjects consuming seven to nine cups of coffee daily. Both in men and in women coffee consumption was positively associated with smoking and the intake of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol. Serum cholesterol values, adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking, dietary cholesterol, fatty acids, alcohol and physical activity, showed a significant linear association with coffee consumption in men but not in women. Although coffee consumption and high intake of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol were related both in men and in women, adjustment for dietary and other confounding factors did not remove the association between coffee consumption and serum cholesterol concentration in men.     

TRANS FATTY ACIDS IN FOODS

The trans fatty acid contents of foods as determined by capillary gas-liquid chromatography are presented. Mayonnaise had the least amount and margarine the most.     

REDUCTION OF PLASMA LIPIDS AND LIPOPROTEINS BY MARINE FISH OILS

The hypotriglyceridemic effect in human beings of dietary fish oils containing ω-3 fatty acids appears to be due to inhibition of VLDL synthesis.     

肥胖病妇女的脂肪分布与血清脂质成分的相关分析

目的：筛选预示血脂异常的描述中心性肥胖的简易指标。方法：同时测量93例肥胖病妇女的腰围、腹围、臀围、腰围臀围比值（WHR1）和腹围臀围比值（WHR2），并测定血清总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）、高密度脂蛋白-2-胆固醇（HDL2-C）、高密度脂蛋白-3-胆固醇（HDL3-C）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）和极低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（VLDL-C）。结果：WHR1与血清TG、VLDL-C呈正相关，与HDL-C、HDL2-C呈负相关；剔除年龄、体质量指数（BMI）和臀围的影响后仅WHR1与TG、VLDL呈正相关，WHR1与HDL2-C呈负相关，而腹围、WHR：与各血脂指标的相关关系消失。结论：腰臀比值是影响血清TG、VLDL-C、HDL2-C水平的独立危险因素，应当以腰臀比值，而不是腰围作为描述中心性肥胖的简易指标。