Monthly Archives: April 2013

Low Birth Weight: Future Health Problems?

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Robert Barrington

The growing foetus is extremely sensitive to external stimuli, particularly the health and nutrition of the mother. Recent evidence suggests that the future health outcomes of an individual may be determined during this sensitive foetal period. While the traditional viewpoint … Continue reading →

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Fluoride: Bad Bones

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Fluoride is routinely added to drinking water (~1 mg/L) to supposedly improve the teeth of children. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that intakes of fluoride in the amount added to drinking water can be potentially deleterious to the … Continue reading →

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The Obesity Myth: More Fuel for the Fire

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Robert Barrington

The traditional view that obesity is a simple condition characterised by greed or laziness is outdated and requires reappraisal. Evidence is accumulating to show that obesity is far more complex than was previously thought and is a combination of behavioural, … Continue reading →

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Coffee and Disease: Myths and Rumour

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Robert Barrington

It is now becoming clear that scientific research went through a dark-ages period that will forever taint its history. This period lasted from the end of the 1960’s all the way to the end of the 1990’s, and was characterised … Continue reading →

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Capsinoids: Thermogenic Enhancers?

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Obesity is characterised by a reduction in insulin sensitivity. One of the main problems associated with this insulin resistance is an inability to efficiently oxidise fatty acids in skeletal muscle, something which significantly lowers energy expenditure. Capsinoids are a group … Continue reading →

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Procyanidin Absorption

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Flavan-3-ols are a group of flavonoids present in commonly eaten foods such as tea, apples and wine. The main flavan-3-ols are (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin, which can form various compounds by bonding to gallic acid (figure 1). Epidemiological evidence suggests that … Continue reading →

Posted in Catechin, Cocoa (Theobroma cacao), Epicatechin, Flavan-3-ols, Phenolic Acids, Procyanidins, Tea | Comments Off on Procyanidin Absorption

Efflux Proteins Regulate Steroid and Sterol Absorption

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Sterols are group of plant compounds with structures similar to the steroid cholesterol (here). Sterols are of interest to nutritional scientists because they show the ability to lower plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations. The similarity in structure between the … Continue reading →

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Insulin Resistance: Is It an Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency?

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Robert Barrington

The development of metabolic syndrome, characterised by insulin resistance, abdominal obesity and blood lipid changes, is a risk factor for a number of serious diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity. Insulin resistance is a complex phenomenon and is … Continue reading →

Posted in Cardiovascular Disease, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fish Oils, Gamma Linolenic Acid, Insulin, Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Syndrome, Obesity, Safflower Oil | Comments Off on Insulin Resistance: Is It an Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency?

Sleep Stress: Obesity Trigger?

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Stress causes adaptation and allows beneficial changes to occur in organisms. For example, exercise is a form of stress that forces physiological adaptations to improve physical performance. However, following application of a stressor, time must be allowed for adaptation. During … Continue reading →

Posted in Carbohydrate, Ghrelin, Leptin, Obesity, Sleep | Comments Off on Sleep Stress: Obesity Trigger?

Vitamin D and Muscle Function

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Robert Barrington

The generally accepted biomarker for vitamin D status in humans is plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. Plasma levels of 25(OH)D can be maintained above the recommended 40 nmol/L through sunlight exposure or through dietary intake. Evidence suggests that modern lifestyle behaviours … Continue reading →

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