An opinion paper: emphasis on white muscle development and growth to improve farmed fish flesh quality

Due to rapid depletion of wild stocks, the necessity to cultivate fish is eminent. Current fish farming practices seek to improve flesh quality. The notion that white muscles are the main target of the fishing industry is emphasized. A novel approach is suggested based on the development of white muscles in wild fish from eggs to adults. A compilation of facts about white muscle structure, function and ontogeny is followed by an account of the changes in swimming behaviour and performance related to the use of white muscle during growth from larva to adult. Ecological data narrate early swimming performance with white muscle development and growth, unveiling some of the important natural selection factors eliminating weak swimmers and poor growers from the breeding stock. A comparison between fish culture practise and natural conditions reveals fundamental differences. New approaches following wild breeding processes promise several important advantages regarding the quality of white muscle

Intake of carbohydrates and SFA and risk of CHD in middle-age adults: The Hordaland Health Study (HUSK)

Objective: Limiting SFA intake may minimise the risk of CHD. However, such reduction often leads to increased intake of carbohydrates. We aimed to evaluate associations and the interplay of carbohydrate and SFA intake on CHD risk. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: We followed participants in the Hordaland Health Study, Norway from 1997–1999 through 2009. Information on carbohydrate and SFA intake was obtained from a FFQ and analysed as continuous and categorical (quartiles) variables. Multivariable Cox regression estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % CI. Theoretical substitution analyses modelled the substitution of carbohydrates with other nutrients. CHD was defined as fatal or non-fatal CHD (ICD9 codes 410–414 and ICD10 codes I20–I25). Participants: 2995 men and women, aged 46–49 years. Results: Adjusting for age, sex, energy intake, physical activity and smoking, SFA was associated with lower risk (HRQ4 v. Q1 0·44, 95 % CI 0·26, 0·76, Ptrend = 0·002). For carbohydrates, the opposite pattern was observed (HRQ4 v. Q1 2·10, 95 % CI 1·22, 3·63, Ptrend = 0·003). SFA from cheese was associated with lower CHD risk (HRQ4 v. Q1 0·44, 95 % CI 0·24, 0·83, Ptrend = 0·006), while there were no associations between SFA from other food items and CHD. A 5 E% substitution of carbohydrates with total fat, but not SFA, was associated with lower CHD risk (HR 0·75, 95 % CI 0·62, 0·90). Conclusions: Higher intake of predominantly high glycaemic carbohydrates and lower intake of SFA, specifically lower intake from cheese, were associated with higher CHD risk. Substituting carbohydrates with total fat, but not SFA, was associated with significantly lower risk of CHD

Intake of carbohydrates and SFA and risk of CHD in middle-age adults: The Hordaland Health Study (HUSK)

Objective: Limiting SFA intake may minimise the risk of CHD. However, such reduction often leads to increased intake of carbohydrates. We aimed to evaluate associations and the interplay of carbohydrate and SFA intake on CHD risk. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: We followed participants in the Hordaland Health Study, Norway from 1997–1999 through 2009. Information on carbohydrate and SFA intake was obtained from a FFQ and analysed as continuous and categorical (quartiles) variables. Multivariable Cox regression estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % CI. Theoretical substitution analyses modelled the substitution of carbohydrates with other nutrients. CHD was defined as fatal or non-fatal CHD (ICD9 codes 410–414 and ICD10 codes I20–I25). Participants: 2995 men and women, aged 46–49 years. Results: Adjusting for age, sex, energy intake, physical activity and smoking, SFA was associated with lower risk (HRQ4 v. Q1 0·44, 95 % CI 0·26, 0·76, Ptrend = 0·002). For carbohydrates, the opposite pattern was observed (HRQ4 v. Q1 2·10, 95 % CI 1·22, 3·63, Ptrend = 0·003). SFA from cheese was associated with lower CHD risk (HRQ4 v. Q1 0·44, 95 % CI 0·24, 0·83, Ptrend = 0·006), while there were no associations between SFA from other food items and CHD. A 5 E% substitution of carbohydrates with total fat, but not SFA, was associated with lower CHD risk (HR 0·75, 95 % CI 0·62, 0·90). Conclusions: Higher intake of predominantly high glycaemic carbohydrates and lower intake of SFA, specifically lower intake from cheese, were associated with higher CHD risk. Substituting carbohydrates with total fat, but not SFA, was associated with significantly lower risk of CHD

The relationship between body size and the risk of multiple sclerosis. The EnvIMS study

Introduction: Two recent studies from Canada and Sweden have shown that a large body size around 18-20 years may increase the risk of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), suggestive of a possible effect of reduced circulating levels of vitamin D in overweight individuals. We assessed this association in a large multinational case-control study (EnvIMS). Methods: A population based sample of 959 cases (286 men, 673 women) and 1718 controls (462 men, 1256 women) in Norway and 732 cases (261 men, 471 women) and 1439 controls (471 men, 968 women) in Italy reported their body size using body silhouettes ranging from 1 to 9 where 9 represents the largest. Body sizes at age (in years) 5, 10, 15, 25, 30 and current age (after onset of disease for MS cases) were reported. Self-report of body size was validated against current body mass index. We analyzed men and women separately and compared the cases to controls with independent samples t-test and logistic regression, using body size 3 as a reference group and smoking and education as co-variates. Results: In Norway cases reported a larger average body size between age 5 and 30, being significant from age 15 to 25 among men and age 10 to 25 among women. In Italy cases reported a slightly larger, non-significant, average body size up to 20 years among men and 25 years among women. Interestingly, at current age cases in general had a lower average body size compared with controls in both countries. In Norway we found that a large body size (silhouettes 6-9) at age 25 was associated with an increased risk for MS [men: OR=2.20 (95% CI: 1.14-4.24, p-trend=0.003), women: OR=1.62 (95% CI 1.04-2.53, p-trend=0.0005)]. The corresponding results at age 20 were OR=1.55 (95% CI: 0.71-3.36, p-trend=0.001) for men and OR=1.16 (95% CI: 0.72-1.88, p-trend=0.01) for women. No significant trend was found in Italy. Adjustment for smoking and education did not materially change the results. In both countries we found a protective effect for the slimmest body sizes (1-2) compared with body size 3 in all age groups (5-30). Conclusions: Our analyses show that factors related to a large body size, particularly around 20-25 years, seem to be a risk factor for MS in Norway, but less so in Italy. These results are compatible with low circulating vitamin D or a chronic inflammatory state in overweight individuals. The difference between the countries might be related to protection through higher sun exposure in Italy