1. Bowel transit time has been investigated in vegetarians and non-vegetarians and related to dietary fibre intake 2. Vegetarians who have less diverticular disease than non-vegetarians have more rapid transit times. 3. Subjects with total dietary fibre intake of more than 30 g/d all had transit times of less than 75 h whereas 4. Individuals with diverticular disease were found to have faster transit times than those without the disease. 5. The colon may respond to a fibre-depleted diet either by becoming hyperactive and prone to diverticular disease or by becoming hypoactive leading to constipation.

We measured the platelet total phospholipid fatty acid profiles of 20 insulin treated (Type I) diabetics, 20 non-insulin treated (Type II) diabetics and 20 matched non-diabetic controls to determine the relationship between the omega 6 and omega 3 series of fatty acids in diabetes. A significant inverse correlation between linoleic acid and arachidonic acid occurred in the normal subjects (r = -0.61; P less than 0.001) but was not seen in the Type I diabetics (r = -0.13; P = NS) or in the Type II diabetics (r = -0.27; P = NS). No significant correlation was seen between linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in the normal controls (r = -0.34; P = NS) or in the Type I diabetics (r = 0.21; P = NS) or in the Type II diabetics (r = -0.20; P = NS). The results suggest that a functional impairment of platelet delta 5 and delta 6 desaturase may occur in diabetes which disrupts the normal equilibrium between linoleic acid and arachidonic acid. However, the level of eicosapentaenoic acid appears to be less dependent on conversion from linolenic acid. Our findings are of importance to studies designed to reduce platelet aggregation in diabetics and non-diabetics by manipulation of the levels of the precursor fatty acids of thromboxane.

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Nutritional factors in the aetiology of coronary heart disease, maturity-onset diabetes, diverticular disease and dental caries are discussed. Four principles for a prudent diet are suggested, namely: avoid excess intake of energy, increase dietary fibre intake, reduce total fat intake to approximately 30 per cent of energy intake, take a high proportion of fat as the polyunsaturated form. *Based on a lecture given to the Community Nutrition Group of the British Dietetic Associa tion 57 Int J Food Sci Nutr Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Chulalongkorn University on 01/03/15 For personal use only. tions (US Senate, 1977) included the reduction of salt intake in the hope of reducing the frequency of hypertension. Some people might also feel that advice concerning breast feeding, fluoridation, alcohol, food additives and measures to 3. If people are to increase their intake of complex carbohydrate and to avoid There are other aspects which could be added. The United States recommenda-61 Int J Food Sci Nutr Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Chulalongkorn University on 01/03/15For personal use only.

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