Composition of native american fruits in the Pacific Northwest.

Thirteen species of native fruits eaten by Pacific Northwest Indians were analyzed for proximate composition, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and ascorbic acid content. To determine relative nutrient contributions of these fruits to the diet, these data were combined with anthropological data, and a comparison with the RDA was made. The fruits analyzed may have provided substantial quantities of kilocalories, ascorbic acid, iron, zinc, calcium, and magnesium to the Pacific Northwest Indian diet. This information can be useful to dietitians involved in nutrition counseling of American Indians who are currently striving to retain certain cultural foods as part of their diet.

Primary taste thresholds in children with leukemia undergoing marrow transplantation.

Taste threshold for the four basic tastes were determined to assess taste impairments in 11 children with acute leukemia undergoing marrow transplantation and in 20 normal children. Thresholds were measured on admission, 2 days, and 45 days after transplant using the Up-Down Staircase method. No significant difference was noted between patients at admission and the control group for sweet, bitter, or salt. There was a significant difference between patients and controls for the sour threshold (p = 0.006). Patient threshold values on day 2 and day 45 (posttransplant were compared with admission values. No significant differences were seen, except for the salt threshold which was increased at day 2 posttransplant when compared with the admission values. We conclude that only minor changes in taste thresholds were demonstrated in this study. These changes probably do not account for abnormal food tastes reported by patients.