The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) is a cross-sectional survey designed to gather data representative of the UK population on food consumption, nutrient intakes and nutritional status. The objectives of the present paper were to identify and describe food consumption and nutrient intakes in the UK from the first year of the NDNS rolling programme and compare these with the 2000-01 NDNS of adults aged 19 -64 years and the 1997 NDNS of young people aged 4 -18 years. Differences in median daily food consumption and nutrient intakes between the surveys were compared by sex and age group (4-10 years, 11-18 years and 19-64 years). There were no changes in energy, total fat or carbohydrate intakes between the surveys. Children aged 4 -10 years had significantly lower consumption of soft drinks (not low calorie), crisps and savoury snacks and chocolate confectionery in 2008 -09 than in 1997 (all P,0·0001). The percentage contribution of non-milk extrinsic sugars to food energy was also significantly lower than in 1997 in children aged 4-10 years (P,0·0001), contributing 13·7 -14·6 % in 2008-09 compared with 16·8 % in 1997. These changes were not as marked in older children and there were no changes in these foods and nutrients in adults. There was still a substantial proportion (46 %) of girls aged 11-18 years and women aged 19-64 years (21 %) with mean daily Fe intakes below the lower reference nutrient intake. Since previous surveys there have been some positive changes in intakes especially in younger children. However, further attention is required in other groups, in particular adolescent girls.

Previous studies have shown that consumption of fruit and vegetables plays a role in preventing the onset of CVD. These beneficial effects have been linked to the presence of polyphenolic compounds in plant-derived foods and their antioxidant capacity. It has been hypothesised that polyphenols may also have a direct effect on vascular endothelial cell growth and the expression of genes involved in angiogenesis and other roles of the endothelium. Previous studies in this area have tended to use concentrations of polyphenols that are supraphysiological (1-100 mM). The effects of more physiological concentrations (0 . 1 mM) of various individual polyphenols on gene expression were therefore investigated in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) using both microarray and quantitative RT-PCR methodologies. Treatment of HUVEC with ferulic acid, quercetin or resveratrol (0 . 1 mM) resulted in changes to gene expression that for the three treatments amounted to significant ( > 2-fold) down-regulation of the expression of 363 genes and significant ( > 2-fold) up-regulation of 233 genes of the 10 000 genes present on the microarray. The majority of these genes were affected by resveratrol. Quantitative RT-PCR studies indicated that resveratrol (0 . 1 mM) significantly increased the expression of the gene encoding endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), which synthesises the vasodilator molecule NO, and both resveratrol and quercetin decreased expression of the potent vasoconstrictor, endothelin-1 (ET-1), while ferulic acid had no effect. The effects of resveratrol (0 . 1 mM) were also investigated when HUVEC were under oxidative stress following treatment with H 2 O 2 (0-50 mM), which dose-dependently increased expression of eNOS and ET-1. Resveratrol stimulated eNOS mRNA in the absence of H 2 O 2 and still allowed the increase with H 2 O 2 , but the effects were not additive. In contrast, resveratrol blocked the stimulatory effect of H 2 O 2 on ET-1 expression. Hence, resveratrol has potent effects at a physiological concentration (0 . 1 mM) that would be expected to result in vasodilation and therefore help reduce blood pressure and the risk of CVD. Polyphenols: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells: Gene expressionIn the UK there was a dramatic increase in the incidence rates of CVD such as CHD and atherosclerosis during the 20th century up to the end of the 1970s (1) . Although the numbers of deaths from these diseases are currently decreasing within the UK population, CVD are still the main cause of death in the UK, and the incidence rates of CVD are on the increase worldwide. In 2005 CVD was the main cause of morbidity in the UK, resulting in 208 229 deaths, with CHD accounting for 48 . 5% of these cases (1) . Thus, efforts are being made to identify methods for both the prevention and the treatment of CVD to further reduce the rate of incidence of these diseases within both the UK population and worldwide.

High saturated fat intake is an established risk factor for several chronic diseases. The objective of the present study is to report dietary intakes and main food sources of fat and fatty acids (FA) from the first year of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) rolling programme in the UK. Dietary data were collected using 4 d estimated food diaries (n 896) and compared with dietary reference values (DRV) and previous NDNS results. Total fat provided 34 -36 % food energy (FE) across all age groups, which was similar to previous surveys for adults. Men (19 -64 years) and older girls (11 -18 years) had mean intakes just above the DRV, while all other groups had mean total fat intakes of , 35 % FE. SFA intakes were lower compared with previous surveys, ranging from 13 to 15 % FE, but still above the DRV. Mean MUFA intakes were 12·5 % FE for adults and children aged 4-18 years and all were below the DRV. Mean n-3 PUFA intake represented 0·7-1·1 % FE. Compared with previous survey data, the direction of change for n-3 PUFA was upwards for all age groups, although the differences in absolute terms were very small. Trans-FA intakes were lower than in previous NDNS and were less than 2 g/d for all age groups, representing 0·8 % FE and lower than the DRV in all age groups. In conclusion, dietary intake of fat and FA is moving towards recommended levels for the UK population. However, there remains room for considerable further improvement.Key words: Dietary intake: National Diet and Nutrition Survey: Fat: Fatty acids: UK Fat has an essential role in our diet. It is the most energy-dense nutrient providing 37 kJ (9 kcal)/g; it is the medium for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins; it is a primary contributor to palatability of food; and it has a crucial role in membrane structures, the immune system and brain development (1) . However, high intakes of specific types of fat are also an established risk factor for several chronic diseases, such as CVD, obesity, diabetes and cancer (2,3) . There is evidence that replacing SFA with PUFA could decrease the risk of CHD (4) .Recommendations on fat intakes have been established in several countries. In the UK, the Department of Health recommends a maximum daily intake of total fat of 35 % of food energy (FE), SFA of 11 % FE, PUFA of 6·5 % FE and trans-fat of 2 % FE (5) . It is important to monitor the consumption of fat and fatty acids (FA) in populations using dietary surveillance programmes to determine how well recommendations are being met (4) .In the UK, household food purchase surveys have been carried out for many years to monitor food purchases; these show that purchases of fat (including all types of fat) have remained stable since 2005 -06, and that whole milk, which is a contributor to fat intake, is on a downward trend (6) . However, household surveys do not necessarily reflect individual food intake. Therefore, the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) was set up in 1992 following the 1986-87 Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British Adults to o...

BackgroundWhere children eat has been linked to variations in diet quality, including the consumption of low-nutrient, energy-dense food, a recognized risk factor for obesity.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive analysis of consumption patterns and nutritional intake by eating location in British children with the use of a nationally representative survey.DesignCross-sectional data from 4636 children (80,075 eating occasions) aged 1.5–18 y from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Program (2008–2014) were analyzed. Eating locations were categorized as home, school, work, leisure places, food outlets, and “on the go.” Foods were classified into core (considered important or acceptable within a healthy diet) and noncore (all other foods). Other variables included the percentage of meals eaten at home, sex, ethnicity, body mass index, income, frequency of eating out, takeaway meal consumption, alcohol consumption, and smoking.ResultsThe main eating location across all age groups was at home (69–79% of eating occasions), with the highest energy intakes. One-third of children from the least-affluent families consumed ≤25% of meals at home. Eating more at home was associated with less sugar and takeaway food consumption. Eating occasions in leisure places, food outlets, and “on the go” combined increased with age, from 5% (1.5–3 y) to 7% (11–18 y), with higher energy intakes from noncore foods in these locations. The school environment was associated with higher intakes of core foods and reduced intakes of noncore foods in children aged 4–10 y who ate school-sourced foods.ConclusionsHome and school eating are associated with better food choices, whereas other locations are associated with poor food choices. Effective, sustained initiatives targeted at behaviors and improving access to healthy foods in leisure centers and food outlets, including food sold to eat “on the go,” may improve food choices. Home remains an important target for intervention through family and nutrition education, outreach, and social marketing campaigns. This trial was registered with the ISRTCN registry (https://www.isrctn.com) as ISRCTN17261407.

Previous cell culture-based studies have shown potential health beneficial effects on gene expression of dietary polyphenols, including those found in red wine and green tea. However, these studies have tended to use higher concentrations (2-100 mM) than those observed in blood (0·1 -1 mM) after consuming polyphenol-rich foods or beverages. The present study investigated effects of physiological concentrations of different classes of dietary polyphenol on the expression of genes important in cardiovascular health (endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)) by cultured vascular endothelial cells (human umbilical vein endothelial cells) in the absence or presence of H 2 O 2 . Resveratrol and quercetin (0·1 -1 mM) increased eNOS and VEGF mRNA expression particularly in the absence of H 2 O 2 (50 mM) and decreased H 2 O 2 -induced ET-1 mRNA expression (P, 0·001 for polyphenol £ H 2 O 2 interactions). Similarly, resveratrol and quercetin decreased endothelin secretion into the media, blocking the stimulatory effect of 50 mM-H 2 O 2 (P,0·001 for polyphenol £ H 2 O 2 interaction). Of the nine other polyphenols tested, only epigallocatechin gallate had similar effects on both the eNOS and ET-1 mRNA expression, but to a lesser extent than resveratrol at an equimolar concentration (0·1 mM). The observed effects on gene expression would be expected to result in vasodilation and thereby reduced blood pressure. Since only three of the eleven polyphenols tested had biological activity, it is unclear whether particular structures are important or whether the effects might relate to the relatively high antioxidant capacities of the three active polyphenols.

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The reduction of water-insoluble indigo by the recently isolated moderate thermophile, Clostridium isatidis, has been studied with the aim of developing a sustainable technology for industrial indigo reduction. The ability to reduce indigo was not shared with C. aurantibutyricum, C. celatum and C. papyrosolvens, but C. papyrosolvens could reduce indigo carmine (5,5'-indigosulfonic acid), a soluble indigo derivative. The supernatant from cultures of C. isatidis, but not from cultures of the other bacteria tested, decreased indigo particle size to one-tenth diameter. Addition of madder powder, anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid, and humic acid all stimulated indigo reduction by C. isatidis. Redox potentials of cultures of C. isatidis were about 100 mV more negative than those of C. aurantibutyricum, C. celatum and C. papyrosolvens, and reached -600 mV versus the SCE in the presence of indigo, but potentials were not consistently affected by the addition of the quinone compounds, which probably act by modifying the surface of the bacteria or indigo particles. It is concluded that C. isatidis can reduce indigo because (1) it produces an extracellular factor that decreases indigo particle size, and (2) it generates a sufficiently reducing potential.