The basic composition (moisture, total carbohydrates, dietary fiber, crude fat, ash, nitrogen, and protein) and amino acid contents were determined in the cultivated mushrooms Agaricus bisporus/white, Agaricus bisporus/brown, Lentinula edodes, and Pleurotus ostreatus. In addition, nitrogen-to-protein conversion factors were calculated for each species by dividing the sums of amino acid residues with total (Kjeldahl) nitrogen contents. The dry matter contents of mushrooms varied from 7.7% to 8.4%. The dry matter of mushrooms contained large amounts of carbohydrates, from 4.5 (A. bisporus/white) to 5.8 g/100 g fresh weight (L. edodes). L. edodes proved to be an especially good source of dietary fiber (3.3 g/100 g fresh weight); the other mushrooms contained 1.5-2.4 g/100 g fresh weight. Crude fat, ash, and protein (based on amino acid analysis) contents of the mushrooms varied 0.31-0.35, 0.49-0.78, and 1.8-2.09 g/100 g fresh weight, respectively. Mushrooms proved to be good sources of almost all essential amino acids when compared with common vegetables. The mean nitrogen-to-protein conversion factor analyzed in the present study was 4.7 +/- 0.21. When using this factor, a very good estimation of protein contents could be obtained for the main species of mushrooms cultivated in Finland.

A 3-year prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of oral clodronate 800 mg showed that the incidence of clinical fractures was decreased by 20% in 5596 elderly women unselected for osteoporosis. The effect occurred in the absence of systematic calcium and vitamin D supplementation and was observed across a wide range of BMDs.Introduction: To date, most studies with bisphosphonates have reported on their use in individuals selected to be at high risk for fracture usually by the presence of low BMD or a prior fragility fracture, usually of the spine. We wished to determine the effect of the bisphosphonate, clodronate, on the rate of fractures in women Ն75 years of age living in the community. Materials and Methods: Women Ն75 years of age living in the general community in South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire, identified from general practice registers, were recruited by letter of invitation to a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of 800 mg oral clodronate (Bonefos) or matching placebo daily over 3 years. The main outcomes were the incidences of hip and any clinical fracture. Results: Of the 5579 elderly women included in the intention-to-treat analysis of efficacy, 114 had a new hip fracture during the 3-year treatment phase: 56 (2.0%) women in the clodronate group and 58 (2.1%) women in the placebo group (hazard ration [HR], 1.02; 95% CI, 0.71-1.47). Clodronate did, however, decrease the incidence of any clinical fracture by 20% (264 women [9.5%] versus 337 [12.1%] in the placebo group; HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.68-0.94). The incidence of osteoporosis-associated nonhip fractures was also significantly decreased by 29% (5.2% versus 7.4%; HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.57-0.87). The ability of clodronate to reduce the risk of osteoporotic fracture was independent of baseline BMD, but the number needed-to-treat was lower in the presence of osteoporosis. Conclusions: Oral daily clodronate can prevent fractures without significant adverse effects in elderly women living in the general community. The effect on hip fracture risk is not significant, but an effect similar to that at other nonvertebral sites cannot be excluded. This study suggests that antiresorptive therapies can reduce fracture incidence in high-risk individuals even in the presence of a normal or osteopenic BMD.

The goal of this work was to analyze nutritional value of various minimally processed commercial products of plant protein sources such as faba bean (Vicia faba), lupin (Lupinus angustifolius), rapeseed press cake (Brassica rapa/napus subsp. Oleifera), flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum), oil hemp seed (Cannabis sativa), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa). Basic composition and various nutritional components like amino acids, sugars, minerals, and dietary fiber were determined. Nearly all the samples studied could be considered as good sources of essential amino acids, minerals and dietary fiber. The highest content of crude protein (over 30 g/100 g DW) was found in faba bean, blue lupin and rapeseed press cake. The total amount of essential amino acids (EAA) ranged from 25.8 g/16 g N in oil hemp hulls to 41.5 g/16 g N in pearled quinoa. All the samples studied have a nutritionally favorable composition with significant health benefit potential. Processing (dehulling or pearling) affected greatly to the contents of analyzed nutrients.

Determinants of mortality were studied in a prospective study of 677 women and men with primary or secondary osteoporosis. Prevalent vertebral fractures were associated with increased mortality, but other known predictors of mortality explain a significant proportion of the excess risk.Introduction: In population studies, prevalent vertebral fractures are associated with increased mortality. It is unknown whether this excess mortality is related to low bone mineral density or its determinants or whether there is an additional component associated with fracture itself. Methods: We studied 677 women and men with osteoporosis, 28 -88 years old, of whom 352 had morphometrically determined vertebral fracture, to examine the risk and causes of mortality in patients with osteoporosis (defined densitometrically as a spine bone mineral density T-score Ͻ Ϫ2.5 and Ϫ3.0 for women and men, respectively, and/or one or more prevalent vertebral fractures without a history of significant trauma). The participants had enrolled in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in osteoporosis and were comprised of 483 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, 110 women with secondary osteoporosis, and 84 men with osteoporosis of any cause. Demographics, medical history, and other measures of skeletal and nonskeletal health status were assessed at entry. Results: During a median follow-up of 3.2 years, 37 (5.5%) participants died, with 31 of these deaths occurring in those with prevalent vertebral fractures. Compared with participants who did not have a prevalent vertebral fracture, those with one or more fractures had a 4.4-fold higher (95% CI, 1.85, 10.6) mortality rate. After adjustment for predictors for poor health-including number of medications, number of diseases, use of oral corticosteroids, alcohol intake, serum albumin and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), renal function, height, weight, gender, and age-the point estimate of risk remained elevated but was no longer statistically significant (hazard ratio, 2.4; 95% CI. 0.93, 6.23). Conclusions: Prevalent vertebral fractures in osteoporotic patients are associated with increased mortality. Other known predictors of mortality can explain a significant proportion of the excess risk.