National Food Administration

About: National Food Administration is a government organization based out in Uppsala, Sweden. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Breast milk. The organization has 430 authors who have published 657 publications receiving 32214 citations. The organization is also known as: Swedish National Food Agency & Livsmedelsverket.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers: occurrence, dietary exposure, and toxicology.

Abstract: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are used as flame retardants in plastics (concentration, 5--30%) and in textile coatings. Commercial products consist predominantly of penta-, octa-, and decabromodiphenyl ether mixtures, and global PBDE production is about 40,000 tons per year. PBDEs are bioaccumulated and biomagnified in the environment, and comparatively high levels are often found in aquatic biotopes from different parts of the world. During the mid-1970--1980s there was a substantial increase in the PBDE levels with time in both sediments and aquatic biota, whereas the latest Swedish data (pike and guillemot egg) may indicate that levels are at steady state or are decreasing. However, exponentially increasing PBDE levels have been observed in mother's milk during 1972--1997. Based on levels in food from 1999, the dietary intake of PBDE in Sweden has been estimated to be 0.05 microg per day. Characteristic end points of animal toxicity are hepatotoxicity, embryotoxicity, and thyroid effects as well as maternal toxicity during gestation. Recently, behavioral effects have been observed in mice on administration of PBDEs during a critical period after birth. Based on the critical effects reported in available studies, we consider the lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (LOAEL) value of the PBDE group to be 1 mg/kg/day (primarily based on effects of pentaBDEs). In conclusion, with the scientific knowledge of today and based on Nordic intake data, the possible consumer health risk from PBDEs appears limited, as a factor of over 10(6) separates the estimated present mean dietary intake from the suggested LOAEL value. However, the presence of many and important data gaps, including those in carcinogenicity, reproduction, and developmental toxicity, as well as additional routes of exposure, make this conclusion only preliminary. Moreover, the time trend of PBDEs in human breast milk is alarming for the future.

Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2004 – integrating nutrition and physical activity

Abstract: The 4th edition of the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations, NNR 2004, gives the proportions between energy yielding nutrients, recommended daily intakes (RI) of certain vitamins and minerals, and reference values for energy intakes in different age and sex groups. Recommendations are also given for dietary fibre, salt and alcohol. Recommendations on daily physical activity are now included and interaction with physical activity has been taken into account for the individual nutrient recommendations wherever appropriate. For adults 30minutes of daily physical activity of at least moderate intensity is recommended. More physical activity (about60 minutes daily) with a moderate and/or vigorous intensity may be needed for prevention of weight gain. For children a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity every day is recommended. As in the 3rd edition, the recommendation is to limit of the intake of saturated plus trans fatty acids to about 10% of the total energy intake (E%) and of the total fat intake to 30 E%. The intake of carbohydrate and dietary fibres should increase, while the intake of refined sugars should not exceed 10 E%. The RI for vitamin A (women) has been lowered, while it has been increased for vitamin D (children and adults up to 60 y), vitamin C (adults) and folate (women of reproductive age; pregnant and lactating women).NNR is to be used for planning and evaluation of diets, and as a basis for food and nutrition policy, teaching and dietary information. Keywords: nutrition recommendations; physical activity; vitamins; minerals; Nordic countries

A study on the fate of curcumin in the rat

Abstract: The uptake, distribution and excretion of curcumin in Sprague-Dawley rats has been studied. When administered orally in a dose of 1 g/kg, curcumin was excreted in the faeces to about 75%, while negligible amounts of curcumin appeared in the urine. Measurements of blood plasma levels and biliary excretion showed that curcumin was poorly absorbed from the gut. No apparent toxic effects were seen after doses of up to 5 g/kg. When intravenously injected or when added to the perfusate of the isolated liver, curcumin was actively transported into bile, against concentration gradients of several hundred times. The major part of the drug was however metabolized. In suspensions of isolated hepatocytes or liver microsomes 90% of the added curcumin was metabolized within 30 min. In view of the poor absorption, rapid metabolism and excretion of curcumin, it is unlikely that substantial concentrations of curcumin occur in the body after ingestion.

Analysis of acrylamide in cooked foods by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Abstract: A method using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) with electrospray for the analysis of acrylamide in foods is reported. The method comprises the addition of deuterium-labelled acrylamide-d3, extraction with water, mixed mode solid phase extraction, ultrafiltration and a graphitised carbon column for chromatography. The transitions m/z 72>55, 72>54, 72>44, 72>27, 72>72 and 75>58 were recorded in multiple reaction monitoring mode for identification and quantification. In-house validation data for products from potatoes and cereals (30 to 10 000 μg kg−1) are presented (accuracy 91 to 102%, relative standard deviation 3 to 21%). Interlaboratory validation data (comparison with gas chromatography mass spectrometry, 25 to 2000 μg kg−1) showed excellent results (r2 = 0.998).