Nutrient intake and vitamin status of healthy French vegetarians and nonvegetarians.

The status of thiamin, riboflavin, folate, and vitamins B-6, B-12, C, A, D, and E was investigated in 37 middle-aged and healthy French vegetarians by means of a dietary survey and biochemical studies. Values were compared with those of a group of nonvegetarians. Unsatisfactory intakes of vitamin B-6 were observed: vitamin B-6 intake as a percentage of the French Recommended Dietary Allowances was approximately 66% for vegetarians and approximately 58% for nonvegetarians. Vegetarians had a higher mean intake of thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamins C, A, D, and E than did nonvegetarians. Vegetarians did not have a higher risk rate for a biochemical vitamin deficiency of thiamin, riboflavin, folates, and vitamins B-6, C, A, and E than the nonvegetarians. The percentage of subjects assessed as abnormal by blood vitamin concentrations was higher in vegetarians for vitamin B-12 (serum vitamin B-12) and vitamin D, which indicated a higher risk for a deficiency of vitamins B-12 and D in this group.

Vitamin status of young athletes including the effects of supplementation.

Vitamin B1, B2, B6, C, A, and E status was assessed by combining determination of dietary intake with biochemical indices in 55 young male athletes. When compared with 20 matched sedentary controls, a similar number of individuals with biochemical deficiency was found in both groups for vitamins B1, B6, and E despite a higher mean dietary intake of these three vitamins in young athletes. Markedly reduced levels of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, the biologically active form of the vitamin B6 compounds, were found in both populations. Supplementation administered for one month improved the vitamin status of the control subjects but not entirely those of the young athletes.

Fatty acid composition of serum lipids and its relation to diet in an elderly institutionalized population.

This study was conducted to determine the nutritional status with respect to fatty acids of 53 institutionalized elderly subjects (group A). Seven-day food records and biochemical determinations were used. The same protocol was applied to 25 healthy young adults (group B). The 1981 French Recommended Dietary Allowances were used to assess adequacy of intake. Total fat intake was found to be too high in both groups. Higher intakes of animal fats and saturated fatty acids and lower intakes of polyunsaturated fatty acids and linoleic acid were documented in group A than in group B. Elderly subjects exhibited decreased 18:2 omega 6 and 20:4 omega 6 in serum phospholipids and triglycerides. Other indicators of essential fatty acid status in group A differed from group B in the direction of deficiency (double-bond index [DBI], 0.93 +/- 0.01 vs 1.13 +/- 0.04, p less than 0.001; total omega 6, 25.07 +/- 0.46% vs 32.49 +/- 0.89%, p less than 0.001). These findings indicate that institutionalized elderly people are deficient in circulating essential fatty acids, which appears to be caused by both diet and metabolism.

Role of catecholamines in regulation by feeding of energy balance following chronic exercise in rats.

Two experiments examined the contribution of the two catecholamines--epinephrine (EPI) and norepinephrine (NE)--to the control of food intake and body weight gain in male rats during chronic exercise. Urinary excretion of both catecholamines rose significantly and was positively correlated to food intake inhibition (NE, n = 54, r = 0.394, p less than 0.01; EPI, n = 54, r = 0.428, p less than 0.01). Oral ingestion of the non-selective beta-adrenoceptor blocking drug, pindolol, abolished the food intake reduction induced by exercise. Furthermore, rats that were treated with pindolol gained weight at a higher rate than untreated rats. These findings are consistent with the idea that catecholamines contribute to post-exercise inhibition of food intake and reduction of body weight in male rats. However, the exact physiological mechanism of catecholamine-induced decrease in food intake remains to be elucidated.

[Effects of the level of polyunsaturated fatty acids of the diet on the functioning and depletion of energy substrates in the rat heart during perfusion by left atrial route]. / Effets de la teneur en acides gras polyinsaturés du régime sur le fonctionnement et la déplétion en substrats énergétiques de coeur de rat au cours de la perfusion par voie atriale gauche.

The effects of semi-liquid diets containing 6.6% in weight of refined sunflower seed oil (SSO) or hydrogenated coconut oil (HCO) on cardiac endogenous substrates and functional parameters of rats hearts were compared to a standard laboratory chow during seven days. No difference appeared for cardiac glycogen and lipid constituents. Cardiac performance, measured through left atrial perfusion was enhanced by SSO diet and HCO one altered it. A significative phospholipid depletion appeared during the 45 minutes perfusion only in the HCO group.

[Evaluation of dietary vitamin intake in Burgundy (France)]. / Evaluation de l'apport alimentaire vitaminique en Bourgogne (France).

The daily intake of vitamin B1, B2, B6, PP, C, A, D and E was investigated in 297 adult subjects, undergoing a check-up examination in a Health Center in Burgundy, by the 7-day self-recorded prospective protocol, to determine the prevalence of vitamin deficiency risks in an area of a West European Country. The daily vitamin intake was lower than the French Recommended Dietary Allowances: RDA (CNERNA, 1981). The intake was between 50 and 80% of RDA for vitamin B1 in 58%, B2 in 24%, B6 in 59%, PP in 43%, C in 21%, A in 8%, D in 0.6%, E in 53% of the female population and for B1 in 40%, B2 in 18.5%, B6 in 59%, PP in 46%, C in 27%, A in 11%, D in 7% and E in 47% of the male population. The daily vitamin intake was less than half of RDA vor vitamin B1 in 11%, B2 in 0.6%, B6 in 33%, PP in 6.3%, C in 4.5%, A in 0.6%, D in 98%, E in 36% in the females and for B1 in 3%, B6 in 8.5%, PP in 3.5%, C in 5%, A in 0.7%, D in 91% and E in 9% in the males. The use of a probability analysis for estimating vitamin deficiencies showed intakes below their own requirement in 37.8% for B1, 18% for B2, 58.6% for B6, 46% for PP, 29% for C, 8.3% for A, 98% for D and 43.4% for E in the males and 62.5% for B1, 20.9% for B2, 86% for B6, 46% for PP, 24% for C, 9.2% for A, 98% for D and 59.7% for E in the females. Significant correlations were found between the daily vitamin intake and the caloric intake for B1 (r = 0.64), B2 (r = 0.46), B6 (r = 0.64) and PP (r = 0.62). The significantly lower caloric intake in females than in males explains a higher proportion of vitamin deficiencies for B1, B2, B6 and PP in this population. The consumption of green vegetables and fresh fruit, and, consequently, vitamin C intake, was higher in females. Although it was not possible to determine to what extent the vitamin intake deficiency contributes to an impaired biochemical vitamin status, the dietary data of this study supply sufficient information to demonstrate high prevalences of deficient vitamin status in France, particularly for B1, B6 and E.

[Determination of plasma catecholamines in clinical biology]. / Le dosage des catécholamines plasmatiques en biologie clinique.

The use of sensitive detectors has enabled the development of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the dosage of plasma catecholamines (adrenalin, A; noradrenalin, NA and dopamine, DA). Separation of the catecholamines may be done with a pair of ions chromatography on grafted silica or with an exchange of ions chromatography. The quantification is carried out, either by electro-chemical detection (HPLC-ECD), or by fluorometry after catecholamines shunting into trihydroxyindoles compounds (THI). The THI method, more sensitive, does not permit the detection of DA. Plasma levels of A or NA of 30 pg/ml (or 150 fmol/ml) may be measured by HPLC-ECD). The validation of this method as compared with a radioenzymatic method (RA-COMT) permits to imagine that the HPLC-ECD method, which has the advantage of being more economical, less complex and faster than the RA-COMT method, represent a useful tool for the exploration of the adrenergic system clinically as well as in research.

Plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine beta-hydroxylase activity during exercise in man.

Many experimental studies have utilized the activity of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) as an index of sympathetic activity, since this enzyme is not submitted to uptake mechanisms or to enzymatic metabolism as are the circulating catecholamines norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E). However, large discrepancies have been found between the results of these studies. The hypothesis which is examined in this study is that these discrepancies might arise from the different intensities in the stimuli utilized. In order to examine this possibility, plasma DBH activity was measured in seven subjects at rest and in three different conditions known to increase sympathetic activity to varying degrees, i.e., during hand-grip, standing, and supra-maximal bicycle exercise. Plasma NE and E concentrations were also measured during these stimuli. The results of this study show that DBH activity increases above resting levels only during supramaximal dynamic exercise, while plasma NE and E concentrations increase during each experimental condition. Furthermore, the increases in NE and E are related to each other and are also related to heart rate when all experimental conditions are considered. On the contrary, the variations in plasma DBH (expressed as a percentage of the resting value) are not related to other sympathetic indices or to heart rate. Since NE and E vary little from subject to subject at rest and increase discretely in response to the various stimuli, these plasma catecholamine concentrations therefore appear to represent the most accurate indices of sympathetic activity.

Characterization of postjunctional adrenoceptor subtypes in isolated rat myocardial cells in culture.

The effects of agonists and antagonists, specific for the different adrenoceptor subtypes on the automaticity of cultured ventricular cells from postnatal rat, were studied. Chronotropic responses were assessed by recording monophasic action potentials using intracellular microelectrodes. Contraction was assessed by an electro-optical procedure. (-)-Isoproterenol, salbutamol, (-)-phenylephrine, and methoxamine increased the spontaneous rate in a dose-dependent manner, but the stimulatory potencies of alpha-adrenoceptor agonists were weaker than those of the beta-alternates. The frequency response to (-)-isoproterenol was inhibited by atenolol but not by butoxamine. Atenolol was also more effective than butoxamine in antagonizing the rate acceleration by salbutamol. The chronotropic effects of phenylephrine and methoxamine were inhibited by prazosin. In contrast, neither clonidine nor yohimbine displayed any chronotropic action. These findings suggest that the postjunctional adrenoceptors present in the sarcolemma of the isolated cardiac muscle cells, which mediate automaticity responses to catecholamines, are of beta 1, beta 2, and alpha 1 types, the physiological contribution of the beta 1-adrenoceptors being predominant. Applicability of these conclusions to the in situ myocardiocytes is discussed with respect to the level of functional differentiation achieved by the rat myocardial cells in culture.

Measurement of plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate by combination of an enzymatic assay with high-performance liquid chromatography/electrochemistry.

An assay method for the determination of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) in plasma is presented. The procedure is rapid and requires only a small volume. The method includes PLP-dependent enzymatic decarboxylation of L-tyrosine to tyramine (enzyme used: L-tyrosine apodecarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.25) from Streptococcus faecalis) and measurement of tyramine by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. This technique confers specificity, rapidity, and low-cost measurement. Human plasma PLP from 30 normal healthy adults had a mean value of 65.10 +/- 4.70 nM. Sensitivity of the reaction was 1.3 nM and the coefficient of variation of the method (30 repeated assays of sample with a value of 60 nM) was 1.9%.

Nutritional alterations at high altitude in man.

During the French 1980 Mount Pabil (7,102 m) Expedition, a study was made of four altitude-acclimatised climbers (age 36.5 +/- 3.6 years; VO2max 50.5 +/- 3.1 ml X kg-1). Intake of various nutrients, body weight, skinfold thicknesses as indices of body composition, and water and nitrogen balances, were recorded before, and during high altitude exposure, and again after the return to low altitude. There was a significant (35-57%) reduction in total caloric intake at high altitude. Body weight decreased progressively, mainly due to a reduction in body fat. The subjects apparently remained in water balance, while the nitrogen balance was always negative during high altitude exposure. The significant nutritional alterations were mainly observed above 6,000 m. They are discussed with respect to changes in feeding patterns and in hormonal status of the climbers accompanying hypoxia and other stressors proper to high altitude.

[Characteristics of the dietary intake of French children from 3 to 24 months of age. Diet of French infants]. / Caractéristiques de la ration alimentaire des enfants français de 3 à 24 mois.

The food consumption of 543 French infants, aged 3 to 24 months, was recorded during a 3 day period. The nutrient intake data were calculated by a computerized food table. The 1981 recommended dietary amounts proposed by the Committee of the Centre National de Coordination des Etudes et Recherches sur la Nutrition et l'Alimentation were used to assess adequacy of intake. Our results showed a great variability between individuals considering the caloric intake. The mean energy intakes were greater than the recommended amounts for the age range of 6 to 12 months: therefore a revision of the recommended amounts appears necessary. A marked decrease of the consumption of infant formulas was noted between 4-5 months (57% of the total energy intake) and 6-7 months (18% of the total energy intake). The consumption of the other baby foods was the highest at 6-7 months (23% of the total energy intake). The probability that a French infant has a protein intake less than the recommended amounts was less than 0.02. This probability was 0.04 for calcium intake and 0.50 to 0.78 for iron intake according to age. An increase of the iron intake from 4-5 months is a justified dietary goal. The mean intake of linoleic acid was the smallest at a mean age of 8 to 12 months and represented less than 2% of the caloric intake.

[Effect of a controlled regimen of pyridoxol hydrochloride on the liver content of vitamin B6 and on the transaminase activities of erythrocytes in rats]. / Effet d'un régime contrôle en chlorhydrate de pyridoxol et les teneurs hépatiques en vitamine B6 et sur les activités transaminasiques érythrocytaires chez le rat.

The pyridoxamine (PM), pyridoxal (PL) and pyridoxol (PN) in liver, the urinary excretion of 4-pyridoxic acid (4-PA), the red blood cells enzymatic activities (aspartate aminotransferase, GOT and alanine aminotransferase, GPT) were determined in rats fed diets containing different levels of PN, HCl (0,23-170 micrograms/rat/d) during 13 days. PL and PM hepatic levels, GOT and GPT activities decreased significantly in groups A and B receiving respectively 0,23 and 11 micrograms PN, HCl/rat/d. No differences were noticed in food intake and growth. The urinary excretion of 4-PA shows a consistent trend with vitamin B6 intake. As the PM/PL-ratio was maximum in group A, PL reflects the actually available vitamer, whereas PM should be regarded as "trapped" PL. The GOT and GPT activities can be considered as reliable parameters of the pyridoxine status of the rat.

Evaluation of pyridoxine intake and pyridoxine status among aged institutionalised people.

The vitamin B6 status of 60 institutionalised elderly subjects (group A: 31 men, mean age = 77 yr and 29 women, mean age = 84 yr) and 41 healthy young adults (group B or control group: 18 men, mean age = 30 yr and 23 women, mean age = 27 yr) was evaluated using erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase activity coefficient (alpha EGOT) and plasma pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) level (vitamin B6-deficient subjects = alpha greater than 2.0 and PLP less than 80 nmol/l). The kilocalorie, protein and pyridoxine intakes were also estimated. Regarding calories and protein, the diets may be generally considered satisfactory in respect to the French 1981 RDA. The mean dietary intake of vitamin B6 was less than 2 mg/day in all groups. Ninety per cent of the aged, 80 per cent of females in group B in contrast to 56 per cent of males in group B consumed less than their individual vitamin B6 requirements as determined by a probability method. As the incidence of vitamin B6 biochemical deficiency was much higher in the group A (71% for males and 86% for females) than in the control group (11% for males and 30% for females), it is concluded that the high incidence of biochemical vitamin B6 deficiency noted in the aged appeared more relevant from an altered metabolism of the vitamin than from a too low energy intake. Supplements with high doses of vitamin B6 to aged subjects caused a significant decrease in alpha EGOT and a significant increase in PLP levels.

Evaluation of sympathoadrenal activity, adrenocortical function and androgenic status in five men during a Himalayan mountaineering expedition (ascent of Mt Pabil, 7,102 m, 23,294 ft).

Sympathoadrenal activity, adrenocortical function and androgenic status were studied in five well-trained mountaineers during the different phases of a mountaineering expedition during the ascent of Mt Pabil (7,102 m) in the Ganesh Himal massif. Sympathoadrenal activity was evaluated by measuring urinary excretion of adrenaline, noradrenaline, metanephrines, and vanillinmandelic acid. Adrenocortical function was assessed by measuring urinary excretion of free cortisol, 17 OHCS (17-hydroxycorticosteroids) and androgenic status by measuring testosterone glucuronide, Adiol (5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta diol) and 17KS (17-ketosteroids). Reference values were obtained at Chamonix at 1,037 m during rest. During trekking noradrenaline increased significantly while Adiol and 17-KS decreased. The fall in the urinary androgenic pool persisted during the next phases of the expedition. At base camp (4,800 m) noradrenaline, its metabolites and free cortisol increased mainly during physical activity. Above 6,000 m, adrenaline, noradrenaline, their metabolites, free cortisol and 17-OHCS reached a maximum value. During the return to sea level, the urinary level of these parameters was still high. The drop in the urinary androgenic pool observed during trekking and exposure to high altitude confirms results obtained in other studies on prolonged efforts. This hypoandrogenicity may play an important role in the metabolic adaptations as well as in the mental state of the climbers. The increase of sympathoadrenal activity and of adrenocortical function may be considered as a regulatory element in the adaptative response to hypoxia and other stressors proper to high altitude.

[Characteristics of the food ration of children. Results of surveys made of children aged 5, 10 and 15 years in the population of Dijon]. / Caractéristiques de la ration alimentaire de l'enfant. Résultats d'enquêtes effectuées chez des enfants de 5, 10 et 15 ans dans l'agglomération dijonnaise.

A dietary survey has been carried out in 5 to 6, 9 to 11 and 14 to 16 years old children of the urban area of Dijon. The method was the 7 day-record with data processing by computer. The results showed that the mean caloric intakes were lower than the recommended allowances, and that the mean values of proteins (14.5%), lipids (40%) and carbohydrates (45.5%) were the same in the various age groups. Iron and calcium intakes were not sufficient in adolescent girls. The part of the breakfast was decreasing with age. Large individual variations were observed among children.

[Peroperative plasma catecholamine levels during cardiovascular surgery]. / Catécholamines plasmatiques peropératoires au cours de la chirurgie cardio-vasculaire.

Peroperative catecholamine levels were taken as a method for the assessment of automatic protection. Plasma adrenalin and nonadrenalin levels (spectro-fluometric technique) were measured at different pre-, per- and postoperative times in twenty eight surgical patientS: fifteen undergoing cardiac surgery and ten surgery involving the aortic bifurcation. Anaesthesia included high doses of fentanyl associated with droperidol. During aortic grafts variations in catecholamine levels were not significant, whilst during and after ECC there was a significant increase in the values. These variations were slight in comparison with those which may be seen during the excision of a phaeochromocytoma and were very similar to those obtained during effort. There were wide individual variations.