Food webs: Experts consuming families of experts

Food webs of habitats as diverse as takes or desert valleys are known to exhibit common

Habitual coffee and tea drinkers experienced increases in blood pressure after consuming low to moderate doses of caffeine; these increases were larger upright than in the supine posture

Caffeine users have been encouraged to consume caffeine regularly to maintain their caffeine tolerance and so avoid caffeine’s acute pressor effects. In controlled conditions complete caffeine tolerance to intervention doses of 250 mg develops rapidly following several days of caffeine ingestion, nevertheless, complete tolerance is not evident for lower intervention doses. Similarly complete caffeine tolerance to 250 mg intervention doses has been demonstrated in habitual coffee and tea drinkers’ but for lower intervention doses complete tolerance is not evident. This study investigated a group of habitual caffeine users following their self-determined consumption pattern involving two to six servings daily. Cardiovascular responses following the ingestion of low to moderate amounts caffeine (67, 133 and 200 mg) were compared with placebo in a double-blind, randomised design without caffeine abstinence. Pre-intervention and post-intervention (30 and 60 min) 90 s continuous cardiovascular recordings were obtained with the Finometer in both the supine and upright postures. Participants were 12 healthy habitual coffee and tea drinkers (10 female, mean age 36). Doses of 67 and 133 mg increased systolic pressure in both postures while in the upright posture diastolic pressure and aortic impedance increased while arterial compliance decreased. These vascular changes were larger upright than supine for 133 mg caffeine. Additionally 67 mg caffeine increased dp/dt and indexed peripheral resistance in the upright posture. For 200 mg caffeine there was complete caffeine tolerance. Cardiovascular responses to caffeine appear to be associated with the size of the intervention dose. Habitual tea and coffee drinking does not generate complete tolerance to caffeine as has been previously suggested. Both the type and the extent of caffeine induced cardiovascular changes were influenced by posture.

Consuming sports: distinction, univorism and omnivorism

The question of the social usages of culture and its links with social groups continues to be a topic of discussion today. The aim of this article is to contribute to the debate by examining coherence in the choice of physical activities and sports. The study focuses on the upper social groups, questioning, from a macro-sociological standpoint, their possible omnivority and their dissonance of choice with regard to these activities. Based on a quantitative survey of the sports participated in by the French, the study shows that omnivority and massification of activities are major phenomena. However, the upper social groups in France remain distinguishable both in terms of their "high level of omnivority" and their choice of distinctive activities. Dissonance is another of their characteristics but to a lesser extent.

Incorporation of cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid and vaccenic acid (trans-11 18 : 1) into plasma and leucocyte lipids in healthy men consuming dairy products naturally enriched in these fatty acids

The present study investigated whether consuming dairy products naturally enriched in cis-9, trans-11 (c9,t11) conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) by modification of cattle feed increases the concentration of this isomer in plasma and cellular lipids in healthy men. The study had a double-blind cross-over design. Subjects aged 34-60 years consumed dairy products available from food retailers for 1 week and then either control (0.17 g c9,t11 CLA/d; 0.31 g trans-vaccenic acid (tVA)/d) or CLA-enriched (1.43 g c9,t11 CLA/d; 4.71 g tVA/d) dairy products for 6 weeks. After 7 weeks washout, this was repeated with the alternate products. c9,t11 CLA concentration in plasma lipids was lower after consuming the control products, which may reflect the two-fold greater c9,t11 CLA content of the commercial products. Consuming the CLA-enriched dairy products increased the c9,t11 CLA concentration in plasma phosphatidylcholine (PC) (38 %; P=0.035), triacylglycerol (TAG) (22 %; P < 0.0001) and cholesteryl esters (205 %; P < 0.0001), and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) (238 %; P < 0.0001), while tVA concentration was greater in plasma PC (65 %; P=0.035), TAG (98 %; P=0.001) and PBMC (84 %; P=0.004). Overall, the present study shows that consumption of naturally enriched dairy products in amounts similar to habitual intakes of these foods increased the c9,t11 CLA content of plasma and cellular lipids.

The potential therapeutic benefits of consuming 'health-promoting' fermented dairy products: a brief update

Despite the publication of a few contrary indications, the general consensus seems to be that the regular consumption of probiotic cultures, perhaps accompanied by 'prebiotic' compounds, improves the healthy operation of the digestive system of a typical consumer. Whether other benefits follow is a more contentious issue, especially for a given individual. Nevertheless, the dairy industry needs to be aware of the various ideas that are currently being explored, and this brief review seeks to summarize some recent findings.

Incorporation of cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid and vaccenic acid (trans-11 18 : 1) into plasma and leucocyte lipids in healthy men consuming dairy products naturally enriched in these fatty acids

The present study investigated whether consuming dairy products naturally enriched in cis-9, trans-11 (c9,t11) conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) by modification of cattle feed increases the concentration of this isomer in plasma and cellular lipids in healthy men. The study had a double-blind cross-over design. Subjects aged 34-60 years consumed dairy products available from food retailers for 1 week and then either control (0.17 g c9,t11 CLA/d; 0.31 g trans-vaccenic acid (tVA)/d) or CLA-enriched (1.43 g c9,t11 CLA/d; 4.71 g tVA/d) dairy products for 6 weeks. After 7 weeks washout, this was repeated with the alternate products. c9,t11 CLA concentration in plasma lipids was lower after consuming the control products, which may reflect the two-fold greater c9,t11 CLA content of the commercial products. Consuming the CLA-enriched dairy products increased the c9,t11 CLA concentration in plasma phosphatidylcholine (PC) (38 %; P=0.035), triacylglycerol (TAG) (22 %; P < 0.0001) and cholesteryl esters (205 %; P < 0.0001), and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) (238 %; P < 0.0001), while tVA concentration was greater in plasma PC (65 %; P=0.035), TAG (98 %; P=0.001) and PBMC (84 %; P=0.004). Overall, the present study shows that consumption of naturally enriched dairy products in amounts similar to habitual intakes of these foods increased the c9,t11 CLA content of plasma and cellular lipids.