The genotype of infants at family risk of developing CD, carrying the HLA-DQ2 haplotypes, influences the early gut microbiota composition. This finding suggests that a specific disease-biased host genotype may also select for the first gut colonisers and could contribute to determining disease risk.

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Acceptance of foods with specific health characteristics depends largely on the consumers' opinion. The objective of this work was to investigate Spanish consumers' opinions, attitudes and beliefs regarding functional foods in general, and one of the most popular foods, yogurt, in particular. Six consumer focus group interviews were conducted, involving a total of 59 participants. Each group profile was chosen to either complement or contrast the other groups according to previously established criteria (gender, age and educational level). The youngest consumers (18-30 years old) proved, in general, to have a fairly negative attitude toward these types of products, although this attitude varied according to the type of food. For the consumers participating in this study, the most acceptable functional foods were low-fat foods and some fermented dairy products. Purchase and consumption of yogurt were more dependent on its sensorial qualities and its price than on the nutritional information printed on the label. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThe influence of attitudes, beliefs and opinions on food choice and purchase is specially important in the acceptance of some types of foods (organic or ecological, genetically modified or functional) that are presented to the consumer as a possible alternative to the conventional foods. The application of focus groups can help not only in explaining consumer behavior, but also in designing more effective nutritional education rules and products that satisfy consumer needs and expectations.

A new analytical methodology for the determination of fully methoxylated flavones (FMFs) in citrus juices is described. Isolation of the FMFs is carried out by percolation of 30 mL of clarified citrus juice (to which tetramethyl-o-kaempferol is previously added as internal standard) through a C18 Sep-Pak cartridge, washing with 3 mL of water followed by 5 mL of water/acetonitrile (3:1), and selective elution of the retained FMFs with 5 mL of water/acetonitrile (9:11). Determination of the isolated FMFs is carried out by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and UV diode array detection (DAD). Signals at wavelengths 320, 335, and 345 nm (bandwidth 4 nm) are simultaneously acquired, stored, plotted, and integrated. The column used is a microbore (200 x 2.1-mm) Hypersil ODS 5 microns. Elution is in gradient mode, using a ternary mobile phase (water/acetonitrile/tetrahydrofuran). Column temperature is 40 degrees C. Recovery yields are nearly 100% for all the FMFs detected and identified: isosinensetin, hexamethyl-o-gossypetin, sinensetin, tetramethyl-o-isoscutellarein, hexamethyl-o-quercetagetin, nobiletin, tetramethyl-o-scutellarein, heptamethoxyflavone, and tangeretin. Chromatographic separation of the FMFs is extremely dependent upon the minor changes of the mobile phase composition and percentages, gradient rate, and temperature. The UV spectra (230 to 400 nm) of the FMFs obtained under chromatographic conditions are given. The FMFs relative response factors at 320, 335, and 345 nm and their concentrations in hand-squeezed and commercial concentrated orange and mandarin juices are tabulated. The FMF concentration differences found among samples are discussed.