Plasma amino acid patterns and visceral protein status in users and nonusers of monosodium glutamate.

Free amino acids in plasma and total protein, albumin, transferrin and retinol-binding protein (RBP) in serum were determined in two groups of healthy adults consisting of 10 female nonusers and 10 female users of monosodium glutamate (MSG). Users or nonusers of MSG were those consuming or not consuming MSG regularly at their homes for at least 1 y. On the bases of body mass index and serum protein concentrations, each of the two groups appeared to have an adequate protein-energy status. Fasting plasma glutamate concentrations in female nonusers and users of MSG were 22.4 +/- 3.2 and 21.8 +/- 2.0 nmol/mL (means +/- SEM), respectively; these values were not significantly different. These findings indicate that there is no glutamate accumulation in the plasma of MSG users and imply the safety of long-term MSG intake.

Lipid disorders in transitional societies with particular reference to triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol.

Like Western populations, affluent urban populations in developing countries are facing the problem of dyslipidemia, an important risk factor of coronary heart disease. Our study of 453 affluent, urban Thai women revealed that the prevalences of type IIa, IIb, IV and V hyperlipoproteinemias were 32.5, 2.2, 2.4, and 0.4%, respectively. Based on a waist-over-hip circumference ratio (WHR) of > 0.8 and body mass index (BMI) of > 25.0 kg/m2 to indicate abdominal and overall obesity, respectively, the prevalences of abdominal obesity, overall obesity, and combined abdominal and overall obesity in these women were 32.9, 5.7, and 21.2%, respectively. Both BMI and WHR in these women had significantly positive influences on their serum triglyceride (TG) and apo B levels, and significantly negative influences on their serum HDL-cholesterol levels. Only BMI had a significantly positive influence on their serum total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-cholesterol levels but a significantly negative influence on their serum apo A-I levels. A lipid-lowering effect of linoleic acid was shown in 101 dyslipidemic women receiving dietary intervention for 8 weeks, evidenced by significantly negative relationships between their serum 18:2 n-6 levels and serum TC, LDL-C, TG, and apo B levels.

Global assessment of nutrition risk factors in the elderly.

Global assessment of nutrition risk factors in the elderly consists of subject's history, physical examination, and laboratory tests, which are the indispensable mode to establish definite nutritional disorders. This is illustrated in a study of 150 free-living elderly Thais participating in the Global Assessment of Nutritional Risk Factors in the Thai Elderly. They consisted of 50 men and 100 women, aged 60-86 years and were an affluent urban population. Diet-related chronic diseases including overall obesity, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension were the major nutritional problems affecting their life and well-being. Thus appropriate nutritional intervention must be provided to improve their impaired health status.

Dyslipidemia in urban Thais.

Serum lipid profiles were determined in 2,703 male and 792 female officials of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), aged 35-54 yrs, and 519 Ramathibodi Hospital Staff (RHS) consisting of 66 men and 453 women, aged 19-61 yrs. They are affluent-urban Thais. Mean serum total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels in EGAT officials were higher than those in RHS with the same sex, whereas the opposite result was observed for their serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Men also showed higher serum TC, LDL-C, and TG but lower HDL-C levels than women. The major type of dyslipidemia in EGAT officials and RHS was hypercholesterolemia due to elevated serum LDL-C levels, but the elevated LDL-C level in RHS was less severe than that in EGAT officials. Besides, the prevalence of serum HDL-C level of 1.55 mmol/L, a negative risk factor for coronary heart disease, in RHS was higher than that in EGAT officials. The mean percentages of dietary fat-calories consumed by EGAT officials and RHS were 39% and 31%, respectively. Thus it is plausible that dietary fat intake influences their serum lipid levels. The beneficial effects of linoleate intake on serum lipoprotein profiles are illustrated in RHS.

Clinical needs and opportunities in assessing body composition.

Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and obesity are hazardous to health with high morbidity and mortality rates. The assessment of body composition is essential to prevent, diagnose and determine the severity of these disorders as well as their response to therapy. Body weight is the sum of fat and fat-free mass (FFM) whereas its chemical model consists of triglyceride, protein, water, and minerals. Thus one must recognize the appropriate method to assess each compartment of body composition. In clinical practice, the method must be simple, accurate, noninvasive and inexpensive. Body mass index (BMI) is a practical anthropometric parameter to assess protein-energy status in adults because it can easily be calculated from weight in kg divided by (height in meter), and correlates with fatness and mortality. Total body fat can be estimated by measuring the amount of subcutaneous fat by measuring the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer at different sites of the body by a skinfold caliper or near-infrared interactance. A high waist-over-hip circumference ratio (WHR) can be used to diagnose abdominal obesity. Upper arm muscle circumference can be employed to measure muscle mass. However, whenever these methods are used to assess body composition their limitations should be recognized.

Influence of body composition on risk factors for coronary heart disease in Thai women.

Height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR), and body fat (BF were determined in 453 female Ramathibodi Hospital Staff, aged 19-61 years. These mean (±SEM) anthropometric parameters were 1.55+0.002 m, 55.1±0.4 kg, 23.0±0.2 kg/m2, 0.82±0.003, and 21.2±0.2 kg, respectively. The prevalences of overall obesity (BMI >= 25 kg/m2) and abdominal obesity (WHR>0.8) were 27.0 and 54.1 %, respectively. Their serum TC, LDL-C, TG, TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, apo B and FBG increased with overall obesity based on BMI or BF whereas opposite results were observed for serum HDLC and apo A-l levels. Except serum TC, LDL-C, and apo A-l levels, other biochemical parameters were also influenced by abdominal obesity based on WHR.

Carnitine metabolism and human carnitine deficiency.

Carnitine in the human body is derived from the intake of preformed dietary carnitine and biosynthesized carnitine, stemming from the metabolism of lysine and methionine. Carnitine is synthesized in liver and kidney, stored in skeletal muscle, and excreted mainly in urine. Carnitine has two main functions, i.e., transporting long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondrial matrix for beta-oxidation to provide cellular energy and modulating the rise in intramitochondrial acyl-CoA/CoA ratio, which relieves the inhibition of many intramitochondrial enzymes involving glucose and amino acid catabolism. Thus, the main consequence of carnitine deficiency is impaired energy metabolism. Human carnitine deficiency can be either hereditary or acquired. Hereditary carnitine deficiency can be grouped into three clinical entities: myopathic carnitine deficiency, systemic carnitine deficiency, and organic acidurias. Acquired carnitine deficiency is due to inadequate intake, increased requirement, and increased loss of carnitine. The definite diagnosis of carnitine deficiency is based on the determination of free- and acylcarnitine levels in serum, urine, and/or tissues. The estimated safe and adequate daily carnitine intake for adults is 150-500 mumol/day whereas pharmacological doses of carnitine are required for the treatment of hereditary carnitine deficiency.

The effects of soluble dietary fibre from the Thai herb, sweet basil seed, on human body composition.

Twenty obese patients, two males and 18 females, with a mean (± SEM) age of 41.7± 3.2 years and body mass index (BMI) of 31.8± 3.8 kg/m2, were enrolled in a 16-week study to evaluate the usefulness and limitations of treatment with a sweet basil seed (Ocimum canum, Sims) extract. For 16-week (wk0-wk16), they were instructed to reduce their usual energy intake. After baseline observations for 4 weeks, for 12 wk (wk4-wkl6), patients were asked to ingest 2 g of sweet basil seed extract, swollen with 240 ml of water, before lunch and supper (4 g/day). Sixteen patients commenced extract use at wk4. On the basis of their ability to ingest more or less than 50% of the extract, they were categorized into high dose (n= 10) and low dose (n=6) users. In high dose users, there were a significant decrease in BMI by the 4th week of treatment which was maintained at the 8th and 12th weeks of treatment, but skinfold thickness measurements for fat did not decrease. There may, therefore, have been a reduction in total body water. Further support for this view was provided by an observed increase in serum total protein concentration at the 12th week of intervention. That the distribution of water may have changed was suggested by an increase in upper arm muscle circumference (UAMC). For low dose users, on the other hand, their body fat increased at wk8 as indicated by both BMI and skinfold thickness measurements, suggesting that supplement use gave a sense of false security. Apart from the change in serum total protein in the high dose group, no significant effect was observed on lipid, renal or electrolyte status, although fasting glucose rose within the normal range. This investigation demonstrated the importance of direct measures of body fatness, as opposed to those implied from weight-height relationships in the evaluation of management strategies for obesity.