Monthly Archives: September 2015

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Weekly Versus Daily Intakes

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Robert Barrington

The omega-3 fatty acid alpha linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)) is essential to the health. In humans, ALA is metabolised to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5 (n-3)) and subsequently accumulates in cell membranes. Here EPA is converted into a series of … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Delta 6-desaturase, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosanoids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Fish, Fish Oils, Inflammation | Comments Off on Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Weekly Versus Daily Intakes

Has the 25-hydroxyvitamin D in Food Been Overlooked?

Posted on September 29, 2015 by Robert Barrington

The accepted biomarker of vitamin D status is the plasma levels of the hydroxylated form of vitamin D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Following synthesis in the skin, or absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, vitamin D is hydroxylated in the liver to form … Continue reading →

Posted in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D / Calcitriol, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, Vitamin D | Comments Off on Has the 25-hydroxyvitamin D in Food Been Overlooked?

Soybean Isoflavone Bioavailability

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Isoflavones are phytochemicals found in soybeans that may explain some of their health benefits. Isoflavones have been suggested to be responsible for the protective effect that soybean foods shown against oestrogen related cancers such as breast cancer. This may relate … Continue reading →

Posted in Cancer, Daidzein, Genistein, Glycetein, Isoflavones, Oestrogen, Soy | Comments Off on Soybean Isoflavone Bioavailability

Is Chocolate A Weight Loss Food?

Posted on September 27, 2015 by Robert Barrington
Posted in Catechin, Chocolate, Cocoa (Theobroma cacao), Flavan-3-ols, Flavonoids, Proanthocyanidins | Comments Off on Is Chocolate A Weight Loss Food?

Oral Glutamine Supplements

Posted on September 27, 2015 by Robert Barrington

L-glutamine is available in powder form and is a popular supplement. The bioavailability of oral glutamine has been questioned because much of the oral glutamine is utilised as a source of energy by the enterocytes of the small intestine. Glutamine … Continue reading →

Posted in L-glutamine | Comments Off on Oral Glutamine Supplements

Glycine

Posted on September 26, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Glycine is the simplest amino acid in human nutrition. The variable group on glycine is composed of just a hydrogen atom and as such L-glycine is the only amino acid in human nutrition that does not demonstrate chirality. Glycine is … Continue reading →

Posted in Creatine, L-glycine | Comments Off on Glycine

Short Chain Fatty Acids Lower Blood Cholesterol?

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Epidemiological studies suggest that fibre consumption is associated with lower plasma cholesterol concentrations. It has been suggested that the plasma cholesterol lowering effects of high fibre diets may be responsible for their cardioprotective effects. For example, it is estimated from … Continue reading →

Posted in Bile Salts, Cardiovascular Disease, Cholesterol, Fibre, Pectin, Short Chain Fatty Acids | Comments Off on Short Chain Fatty Acids Lower Blood Cholesterol?

Traditional Diets: Healthy and Good For the Environment Too

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Traditional diets are those historically eaten by endogenous populations. Well known traditional diets include the Nordic, the Mediterranean and the Eskimo diet. Traditional diets vary around the World, some being high in starches, some being high in proteins, some being … Continue reading →

Posted in Nordic Diet, Traditional Diets | Comments Off on Traditional Diets: Healthy and Good For the Environment Too

Fibre and Protein: Weight Loss Foods

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Protein is a weight loss food. Evidence from the nutritional literature suggests that eating a high protein diet causes weight loss in those who are overweight. The reason for this in not clear, but the weight loss effects of protein … Continue reading →

Posted in Fibre, Ghrelin, Glucagon-like Peptide 1, Glycaemia, Peptide YY, Polydextrose, Protein, Weight Loss | Comments Off on Fibre and Protein: Weight Loss Foods

Is Industry Sponsored Soft Drink Research Biased?

Posted on September 22, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Funding for scientific research tends to come mainly from governmental bodies, charities or industry. In nutritional research, the food industry provides large numbers of grants to researchers for the investigation of all manner of food related matters. Obviously the food … Continue reading →

Posted in Fructose, Obesity, Soft Drinks, Sucrose, Sugar | Comments Off on Is Industry Sponsored Soft Drink Research Biased?