The protein content of the diet is important for its effect on eating patterns. High-protein diets promote satiety and reduce calorie intake, whereas  low-protein diets give less consistent results. Protein sensing might take place in the oral cavity or in the upper gastrointestinal tract, where specific receptors have been found. Protein signalling to the brain…

A lady, a vegetarian,  bought a salad in a Supermarket. Whilst eating it found a newt in amongst the salad. When the Supermarket were sent this , they reassured her that it was dead. A case of poor Newtrition

The precision of cellular processes is intrinsically limited, which implies that cells naturally make mistakes. In addition, cells are exposed to a multitude of stresses, both internal and environmental, which can induce molecular damage. This can occur at many levels: at the DNA level, for example as a result of DNA replication errors or exposure…

This is an important paper, outlining how hope could be given across the globe. The sums are enormous unless compared to Military and other usage of resources. Karin Stenberg et al   on behalf of the Study Group for the Global Investment Framework for Women’s Children’s Health The Lancet, Early Online Publication, 19 November 2013 Advancing…

In future we may need to rely increasingly on marginal lands for agricultural production for food. This study highlights the fragility of nutrient cycles in such ecosystems in response to climate change. Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo and colleagues analyse soil from 224 dryland ecosystems and find that as aridity increases, carbon and nitrogen concentrations decrease and phosphorus…

Effects of various food ingredients on gall bladder emptying The emptying of the gall bladder in response to feeding is important for the digestion of fat, but the role of various food ingredients in contracting the gall bladder postprandially is not well understood. This study looked at how different food ingredients, when consumed, will have…

A prominent role for the brain in glucose homeostasis was proposed by scientists in the nineteenth century. Throughout most of the twentieth century research focused on evidence that the function of pancreatic islets is both necessary and sufficient to explain glucose homeostasis, and that diabetes results from defects of insulin secretion, action or both. However,…

Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) is rate limiting in the mobilization of fatty acids from cellular triglyceride stores. Adipose triglyceride lipase  is a recently described adipose-enriched protein with triglyceride-specific lipase activity This central role in lipolysis marks ATGL as an interesting pharmacological target as deregulated fatty acid metabolism is closely linked to dyslipidemic and metabolic disorders.…

William Sutherland writing in Nature 14th November vol 503 p 167 talks of Review by quality not quantity for better policy. Society  increasingly demands that policies are based on scientific evidence. Yet he claims Policy makers rarely refer to the journal papers- basing their missives on summaries, reviews and assessments. Such assessments can be deeply…

Parental eating behaviour traits have been shown to be related to the adiposity of their young children. It is not known if this relationship persists in older offspring or whether rigid or flexible control are involved. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that parental eating behavior traits, as measured by the…