RESULTS indicate that nondigestible oligosaccharides are (partly) fermented in the human colon, but in healthy young men the effects are limited. Also the consumption of 15 g nondigestible oligosaccharides does not seem to alter blood lipid concentrations and glucose absorption in our young healthy adults.

Some characteristics of a radioimmunoassay of selenoprotein P (a major selenoprotein in human serum) are described. Polyclonal antibodies generated in rabbits were used and goat anti-rabbit-IgG antiserum was used as a second antibody. Depending on the concentration of selenoprotein P, 1-10 microliters of human serum were used in the assay. The relative standard deviation for the concentration of selenoprotein P was 6.3% between assays and 7.7% within assays. Different animal sera gave no significant interference, indicating that the antibodies did not react with non-human analogues of selenoprotein P. No indication of cross-reactivity could be found concerning extracellular glutathione peroxidase (another selenoprotein in serum). Addition of increasing amounts of normal human serum and partially purified selenoprotein P to the radioimmunoassay resulted in parallel curves. Incubation at 4 degrees C gave somewhat higher binding of labelled selenoprotein P than incubation at room temperature. The epitope, recognized by the antibodies, was apparently stable after storage of serum (in the frozen state for years, and in the cold for months). No significant amount of selenoprotein P could be demonstrated in red blood cells, and analysis of haemolysed whole blood gave expected data. Investigations of selenium status in different study groups indicated that in most cases the concentration of selenoprotein P in serum was positively correlated to that of glutathione peroxidase and serum selenium. In an intervention study, where subjects decreased their selenium intake to 50%, the serum levels of glutathione peroxidase and selenium decreased, but no significant decrease of selenoprotein P could be demonstrated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The consequences of a change from a mixed to a lactovegetarian diet for 12 mo on trace element concentrations in plasma, hair, urine, and feces were studied in 16 women and 4 men. After the diet shift, intakes of zinc and magnesium did not change but that of selenium decreased by 40%. Three months after the diet shift, plasma and hair concentrations of zinc, copper, and selenium had decreased but those of magnesium had increased and the concentrations of mercury, lead, and cadmium in hair were lower. Also, the excretion of zinc, copper, and magnesium in urine, and that of selenium in urine and feces had decreased. Only small changes occurred during the remaining lactovegetarian-diet period. Three years later trace element concentrations had reverted towards baseline concentrations; copper values were similar to baseline concentrations but data for magnesium were slightly higher, and more complex patterns were observed for zinc and selenium. It is concluded that a shift to a lactovegetarian diet changes trace element status.

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Studies on camels' milk, whether with respect to concentration or bioavailability of trace elements from this milk, are limited and warrant further investigation. The object of this study was to analyse the concentration and distribution of zinc, copper, selenium, manganese and iron in camel milk compared to those in human milk, cows' milk and infant formula under similar experimental conditions. Camels' milk and cows' milk were collected from local farms, human milk samples were obtained from healthy donors in Kuwait and infant formula was purchased locally. Milk fractionation was performed by ultra-centrifugation and gel-column chromatography. The concentration of trace elements was analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry and that of protein was determined spectrophotometrically. The concentration of manganese and iron in camels' milk was remarkably higher (7–20-fold and 4–10-fold, respectively) than in human milk, cows' milk and infant formula. The zinc content of camels' milk was higher than that of human milk but slightly lower than in cows' milk and infant formula. The concentration of copper in camels' milk was similar to that of cows' milk but lower than in human milk and infant formula. The selenium content of camels' milk was comparable to those of other types of milk. Approximately 50–80% of zinc, copper and manganese in camels' milk were associated with the casein fraction, similar to that of cows' milk. The majority of selenium and iron in camels' milk was in association with the low molecular weight fraction. It is recommended that camels' milk be considered as a potential source of manganese, selenium and iron, perhaps not only for infants, but also for other groups suspected of mild deficiency of these elements. Further investigations are required to confirm this proposal.