Food and nutrient intake outside the home of 629 French people of fifteen years and over.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess nutrient intake outside the home of 629 people representative of the French population. SUBJECTS: The study population consisted of 629 people aged 15 years and over. They were recruited in a randomized way with two levels (town and household). METHOD: Food intake outside the home was assessed by self-completed estimated record for 7 d. Individuals referred to photographs to estimate portions. Nutrient intake has been calculated for energy, protein, carbohydrate, fat and some minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron). RESULTS: Lunches and dinners eaten out are on average too rich in protein (20% of the energy), too high in fat (40-43% of the energy) and do not contain enough carbohydrate. The percentage of energy from sugars varies between 11% for lunch and 30% for breakfast. Mean intake of nutrients by beverages drunk outside the home decrease with the age of consumers. CONCLUSION: This study shows that foods and drinks consumed outside the home in France are on average too rich in fat and protein.

In vitro and in vivo digestibility and metabolic effects of 3 wheat-flour products (white bread, french toast (rusk) and french toast bran-enriched) in normal subjects.

We devised to study the effects of two technological processings of industrial bread (degree of cooking and enrichment with bran) on in vitro digestibility and repercussions on carbohydrate metabolism in healthy subjects. 3 products were tested in vitro and in vivo: white bread (WB), french toast obtained from the same white bread (FT) and french toast enriched with bran (BFT). In vitro, the percentage of starch hydrolysed was significantly lower for the bran-enriched toast than for WB and FT (p less than 0.001). In vivo, the 3 products and an oral glucose load were given at 08.00 h, after an overnight fast, to 12 healthy volunteers (8 F; 4 M); (age = 24 +/- 1 years; BMI = 21.9 +/- 0.9; mean +/- SEM) on four consecutive days and in random order (latin squares 3 x 4). Each meal contained 35 g carbohydrate and 125 ml water and, for the wheat products, about 190 Kcal. The mean results of the glycemic indexes were: WB = 115 +/- 17%; FT = 99 +/- 21%; BFT = 87 +/- 21% (NS) with the corresponding insulin indexes at 81 +/- 8%, 79 +/- 9% and 90 +/- 8% respectively (NS). The mean plasma glucose and insulin values at 30 minutes did not differ between the three tested foods but were all significantly lower than that observed with glucose (p less than 0.01). Plasma glucose transiently descended below baseline values in all subjects for glucose and BFT. Neither the toasting process nor the presence of wheat bran had any major effect upon hyperglycemia and insulin secretion in the healthy subjects studied.

[Supplementary feeding of 38 Senegalese infants]. / Alimentation complémentaire de 38 nourrissons sénégalais.

A food consumption survey by weighing has been carried out for 3 days in 38 Senegalese infants aged from 6 to 12 months living in the suburbs of Dakar in order to assess the importance of complementary food to cover their nutritional requirements. The recommended dietary allowances in energy and in proteins are satisfied to 49 and 74%, respectively. The other nutritional requirements are covered to the following levels: calcium 38%, iron 24%, vitamin A 39%, B1 51%, B2 43%, PP 82%, C 54%, folates 8%, B12 263%. If we take into account the estimated nutrient intake of breast milk, the recommended dietary allowances in energy and in proteins were satisfied during the survey.

Absence of variation in facteur thymique sérique activity in moderately and severely malnourished Senegalese children.

Facteur thymique sérique activity was evaluated in relation to different types of malnutrition in Senegalese children aged 5 to 42 months. They were classified in four groups: controls, moderate malnutrition, marasmus, and kwashiorkor, according to anthropometric measurements and clinical examination. The two latter groups were characterized by very depressed levels of total protein, album in, transferrin and prealbumin, and by high cortisol concentrations. Zinc status was marginal in all children. Facteur thymique sérique activity, determined by the rosette assay, was normal in the malnourished patients suggesting that moderate as well as severe malnutrition is not necessarily associated with depressed levels of circulating thymic hormone. These results are discussed in relation to zinc status and infections.

Vitamin A status of populations in three West African countries.

The results of food consumption surveys, epidemiological surveys (clinical and biochemical) undertaken in three sub-sahelian countries have established: - the existence of xerophthalmia in Upper Volta - a transitory vitamin A deficiency during the dry season in South Mali, without serious clinical signs - a good vitamin A status in Casamance, in South Senegal. A combined biochemical indicator which takes account of plasma carotenoids and vitamin A is recommended to assess the importance of vitamin A deficiency in a population.

[Biochemical tests during measles]. / Etude de quelques parametres biochimiques au cours de la rougeole.

In order to evaluate the role of measles in the development of vitamin A deficiency, biochemical parameters were compared in four groups of patients: a) 31 children in the first week of measles, b) 10 of these children who returned two weeks later, c) 9 patients hospitalized with other infections and d) 6 healthy controls. The average levels of serum iron, carotene, total proteins, albumin and beta-globulins did not differ significantly between these groups. However, during the first week of measles the following significant differences were found: a) an increase in alpha-2 and alpha-1-globulin levels (p less than 0,01), b) a decrease in gamma-globulin level (p less than 0,001), c) a decrease in vitamin A concentration (p less than 0,05) without clinical signs of deficiency. In the 10 patients who came again 2 weeks after the rash these parameters had returned toward control levels.

[Serum carotenoids and vitamin A in melanodermic and albino subjects in Cameroon]. / Caroténoïdes et vitamine A sériques au Cameroun chez des sujets mélanodermes et albinos.

Vitamin A nutritional status as assessed by carotenoid and vitamin A assays in sera collected in various parts of Cameroon prooved to be of good value. Palm oil rich diets lead to high seric carotenoid concentrations and tissular accumulation which is particularly visible on the palms and soles of melanodermic and albinos subjects.