<p> Coffee and Kombucha tea are both beverages that have been consumed for many years, with a current increased momentum in consumption due to many correlations with beneficial health aspects. The objective of this study was to assess the consumer acceptability of a Kombucha Coffee which tastes more like traditional coffee. A Kombucha Coffee prototype &ldquo;BubbL&ecirc;&rdquo;, was created and compared to a market Kombucha Coffee via a hedonics evaluation, food action rating scale (FACT), and a paired-comparison ranking test. Participants rated the market Kombucha Coffee significantly higher than &ldquo;BubbL&ecirc;&rdquo; Kombucha Coffee in all sensory aspects for flavor (6.84 &plusmn; 1.82; 4.46 &plusmn; 2.48; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), sweetness (7.11 &plusmn; 1.63; 4.65 &plusmn; 2.33; p &lt; 0.001), tartness (6.27 &plusmn; 1.77; 4.72 &plusmn; 2.55; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), aroma (6.30 &plusmn; 1.82; 5.55 &plusmn; 2.59; <i>p</i> = 0.018), mouthfeel (6.87 &plusmn; 1.62; 5.36 &plusmn; 2.64; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), and overall likeability (6.90 &plusmn;1.76; 4.59 &plusmn; 2.43; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) in the hedonics evaluation. The FACT test indicated that participants would more likely drink the market alternative compared to the prototype (5.42 &plusmn; 1.96; 3.62 &plusmn; 2.29; <i> p</i> &lt; 0.001). The majority of participants (80%) chose the market Kombucha Coffee over the more traditional coffee flavored Kombucha Coffee prototype. It is noted that flavor scored the lowest in sensory evaluation for the prototype, therefore, reevaluation of flavor by means of adding coffee enhancing notes are needed for further development of a Kombucha Coffee with a more traditional coffee flavor profile.</p><p>

<p> The current trend of obesity in the United states calls for more innovative ways to help one lose and maintain weight. While many different approaches exist, weight lost is often not sustained long term. Regain of weight can be attributed to impulsively eating high calorie foods that are readily available in most food environments. The purpose of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of four commitment strategies (financial contracts, preordering healthy meals, time locking safes and pattern setting) in addition to standard behavioral treatment for impulsive eating reduction. To do this, participants used each of the four commitment strategies for two weeks in a counterbalanced order. The final three weeks the study was a "mix and match" period where participants used any combination of the strategies. Results of this study show that many of the tested commitment strategies can meaningfully reduce the occurrence of impulsive eating episodes. This study will also help to optimize strategies for use in a future, long-term weight loss study.</p><p>

An attempt has been made to assess the nutritive value of the proteins of a number of weed seeds which are considered as noxious under the Canada Feeding Stuffs Act, but which have been fed successfully to ruminants in the form of heat processed refuse screenings. These weed seeds contain isothiocyanates which may or may not be toxic to animals but which were found to be unpalatable to the rat. For this reason it was found necessary to take two approachs to the problem of determining the nutritive value of these weed seeds; a direct approach involving animal assays with rats and an indirect approach involving assessment of the essential amino acid content of these weed seeds. In carrying out these objectives a study of the properties of the isothiocyantes themselves and of the various methods for evaluation of protein quality were also undertaken. For the direct approach involving animal assays, an attempt was made to develop a procedure which would remove the isothiocyanates from samples of these weed seeds. A procedure involving auto-hydrolysis of the weed seed with water followed by extraction with 70% ethanol was evolved. This treatment reduced the isothiocyanate content of the weed seeds and rendered them palatable to the rat. Using samples prepared in this manner the proteins of a number of the weed seeds were assayed for their net protein utilization according to the method proposed by Miller and Bender (89). Since there was no assurance that attempts to remove the isothiocyanates would be successful, an indirect approach was also taken for the evaluation of the proteins of weed seeds. A number of weed seeds were analysed, for their content of essential amino acids using the microbiological assay methods proposed by Barton - Wright. From this data, a chemical evaluation of the proteins was carried out through computation of "essential amino acid indices" and "chemical scores" according to the method proposed by Mitchell. A comparison and correlation of the animal assays and chemical evaluations indicated that although slightly lower in value the proteins of weed seeds compare favourably with those of soybean and linseed as plant proteins of moderately high biological value. In connection with the evaluation of proteins by the Miller and Bender method a study was made of the body water -body nitrogen relationship in the U.B.C. colony of rats. The body water and body nitrogen content of 58 Wistar and 36 Sprague - Dawley rats were determined and regression equations correlating body nitrogen to body water were calculated. These investigations confirmed the findings of other workers that the nitrogen to water ratio varies with such constancy that the nitrogen content of an animal can be calculated from a knowledge of its water content and age or body weight. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

The relative utilization by the chick of vitamin A alcohol and vitamin A esters fed orally, by pipette, in aqueous carrier, in cottonseed oil-in-water emulsions varying in the oil content, and in cottonseed oil solution was investigated. The efficiency of utilization was based on liver vitamin A storage as determined by spectrophotometry analyses of isopropyl ether liver extracts. Day-old White Leghorn chicks of both sexes were, placed on a vitamin A-deficient diet until the liver vitamin A stores were depleted. The vitamin A preparations were fed to the depleted chicks at various potency levels over periods of 3 and 4 days. Twenty-four hours after administration of the final dose the chicks were killed; the livers were removed, macerated under carbon dioxide, digested with steam and extracted with peroxide free isopropyl ether. Two aliquots of the ether extract were removed, one being analyzed for the vitamin A content of the whole oil and the other being saponified and analyzed for the vitamin A content of the unsaponifiable fraction. It was demonstrated that the crystalline alcohol was utilized 1.5 times as efficiently as the natural ester concentrate when fed in cottonseed oil solution; in aqueous carrier, however, the natural ester concentrate resulted in 4 times the liver vitamin A storage determined for the crystalline alcohol. When the crystalline alcohol and the crystalline acetate were administered in the 50 percent cottonseed oil-in-water emulsion, more liver vitamin A storage was observed than from administration in either the cottonseed oil solution or the aqueous carrier. When the natural ester concentrate was fed in the various types of carrier, the 50 percent emulsion appeared to be responsible for 2.5 times and the aqueous carrier for 4 times as much liver vitamin A storage as was observed when the cottonseed oil was used as the carrier. The increased utilization of the crystalline vitamin A acetate when administered in the 50 percent cottonseed oil-in-water emulsion over that observed when the vitamin was fed in either cottonseed oil solution or aqueous carrier was attributed, in part at least, to the presence of an extensive preformed-oil-water interface which allowed enzymatic hydrolysis of the ester to proceed immediately. The maximum utilization of the natural vitamin A ester concentrate was assumed to occur for the same reason, since this form of the vitamin was obtained commercially as a mixed animal and vegetable oil solution. Investigation of the degree of utilization of the synthetic vitamin A palmitate and the crystalline vitamin A alcohol when fed in cottonseed oil-in-water emulsions did not reveal any regular increase or decrease in the efficiency of utilization when the oil content of the emulsion was varied in a stepwise manner. It was demonstrated, however, that the efficiency of utilization was increased in all cases when the ester form of the vitamin was administered in an oil-in-water emulsion over that observed when administered in oil solution or in aqueous carrier. The crystalline vitamin A alcohol was shown, to be consistent in showing a maximum, utilization when administered in a 50 percent oil-in-water emulsion but with variations in the oil content of the emulsion the utilization was observed to fall off in an irregular manner. It was shown that the differences in the utilization of the alcohol and ester forms of vitamin A by the chick, when administered orally in large doses, in an aqueous emulsion, were similar to those obtained when the various forms, were fed in the mash. When, however, large doses of the alcohol .and ester forms were fed orally in oil solution the relative utilization was observed to be reversed. Hence it was concluded that, when the forms of vitamin A were fed in an unnatural manner (by pipette), the use of an aqueous carrier resulted in a truer conception of the relative utilization which would be found under normal feeding conditions. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Pakistan is facing a rapid rise in non-communicable diseases associated with lifestyle changes in urban cities. Nutrition and diet are key components of lifestyle modification factors that can help prevent and reduce the disease burden in Pakistan. Recently, dietary patterns became commonly used assessment method to examine the effects of an overall diet, representing a broader picture of food and nutrient consumption on health and disease outcome. The first paper of this dissertation identifies key dietary patterns using factor analysis, examining their relationship to sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle factors among 5,491 adults from the Control of Blood Pressure and Risk Attenuation (COBRA) study in Pakistan. Three dietary patterns were identified using a culturally-derived food frequency questionnaire and were labeled as: the "fat and sweet"; the "fruit and vegetable"; and the "seafood and yogurt" patterns. The fat and sweet pattern was inversely associated with male gender and abdominal obesity, and was positively associated with being single, unmarried and between 15-39 years old. The fruit and vegetable and seafood and yogurt patterns were positively associated with increased educational status, physical activity and non-tobacco use. The second paper further examines the association between the identified dietary patterns and hypertension. Age, education, body mass index, marital status and sprinkling salt on cooked food were independently associated with hypertension in this population. Adjusted odds ratios for hypertension in the seafood and yogurt pattern scores were most protective, some protection was observed with the fruit and vegetable pattern and no significant association was seen for the fat and sweet pattern. The third paper provides an additional dimension to the relationship of dietary patterns and health outcomes by evaluating the nutritional biomarkers relevant to cardiovascular disease among the COBRA cohort who were ≥ 40 years. In men, the fat and sweet pattern across the quartiles was positively associated with total lipids, triglycerides and negatively with blood glucose when adjusted for covariates. In women association was only seen for seafood and yogurt pattern. These findings may hold some relevance in study of dietary patterns and health and disease outcome among Pakistanis.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation attenuates indirect indicators of muscle damage, lowers ratings of perceived exertion, and improves aerobic performance as compared to an isocaloric, carbohydrate (CHO) beverage or a non-caloric placebo beverage. Nine, untrained males (VO2 max 36.26 ± 2.23 ml/kg/min) performed three 90-minute cycling bouts at 55% VO2 max followed by a 15-minute time trial. Metabolic data was collected every 15 minutes during the steady-state ride, and indirect muscle damage markers were assessed pre, post, 4-hours, 24-hours, and 48-hours post-exercise. Pre and post-exercise concentrations of the BCAA and glucose were also recorded. All blood markers were adjusted for plasma volume shifts. There were no differences in dietary intake between trials for 3 days prior to exercise. Creatine kinase concentrations were significantly lower after the BCAA trial as compared to the placebo trial at 4, 24, and 48-hours post-exercise, as well as the CHO beverage at 24-hours post-exercise. Creatine kinase was lower in the CHO trial at the 24- and 48-hour time points as compared to the placebo trial. Lactate dehydrogenase concentrations were elevated in the placebo trial at 4-hours as compared to the BCAA trial. As compared to the alternate trials, ratings of perceived soreness were lower at 24-hours post-exercise, leg flexion torque was higher at the 48-hour time point, and plasma concentrations of the BCAA were elevated following the BCAA trial. Time-trial performance was improved in the CHO trial, and ratings of perceived exertion were lower at 75 and 90-minutes of exercise in the BCAA trial as compared to the placebo trial. There were no significant condition x time differences for leg extension torque, VO2, ventilation, heart rate, RER, or energy expenditure. In addition, there was no order effect for creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, leg flexion/extension torque, ratings of perceived soreness, or time trial performance. The present data suggest that BCAA supplementation attenuates muscle damage during prolonged endurance exercise in unfit, college-aged males, but does not affect time trial performance. CHO ingestion improves time trial performance and attenuates post-exercise creatine kinase levels at 24-hours post-exercise as compared to a placebo beverage. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Food, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2006. / June 9, 2006. / Supplementation, BCAA, Muscle Damage, Branched-chain Amino Acids / Includes bibliographical references. / Emily Haymes, Professor Directing Dissertation; Penny Gilmer, Outside Committee Member; Robert Moffatt, Committee Member.

Neurogenesis is the process of stem cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. Recent research has confirmed the presence of ongoing neurogenesis throughout life in humans. This fact has led to vast interest in the mechanisms that underlie this process. Manipulation of adult neurogenesis has the potential to enhance the treatment of a multitude of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression as well as injury and stroke. Previous work has shown that the essential trace metal zinc regulates neuronal precursor proliferation and survival. Thus, this work is based on the central hypothesis that zinc is also needed for neuronal differentiation. Furthermore we proposed that transforming growth factor signaling may be involved in the zinc regulated mechanisms of differentiation. Zinc deficiency (ZD; 0.4µM) impaired the ability of neuronal precursor cells (NT2) to differentiate into mature neurons (NT2-N) when exposed to 2 wks of 10µM retinoic acid (RA), as measured by the early neuronal marker TuJ1. Additionally, we demonstrated a differential regulation of Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-β) receptor isoforms type I (RI) and II (RII) under zinc deficient (0.4µM) conditions in NT2 cells undergoing RA-induced differentiation. Measurements of TGF-β RI and RII in zinc adequate (ZA; 2.5µM) differentiated NT2-N neurons showed that neither receptor isoform was expressed in these cells. TGF-β RI was up-regulated in NT2-N cells in response to ZD (0.4µM) however, while TGF-β RII remained down-regulated under ZD (0.4µM) conditions, as demonstrated via TGF-β RI and RII immunocytochemistry. These data confirmed that ZD (0.4µM) does impair RA-induced differentiation of human NT2 neuronal cells. There is also evidence that a differential regulation of the TGF-β receptor I and II isoforms may be involved in this mechanism, as the loss of RII expression in ZD (0.4µM) NT2-N cells could be responsible for a decline in TGF-β signaling in these cells and thus an attenuated cellular response to TGF-β responsive genes. This research suggests an important role for TGF-β and the trace metal zinc in regulating neuronal differentiation, and helps to improve understanding of adult neurogenesis in the human brain. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Spring Semester, 2008. / March 19, 2008. / TGF-Beta, TGF-Beta Receptors, Adult Neurogenesis, Hippocampus, Dentate Gyrus, Subgranular Layer, Granule Cell Layer, NT2, Post-Mitotic Neurons, Retinoic Acid Induced Differentiation, Neuronal Differentiation, Zinc Deficiency, Zinc / Includes bibliographical references. / Cathy W. Levenson, Professor Directing Thesis; Jasminka Ilich-Ernst, Committee Member; Lisa Eckel, Outside Committee Member.

Fish allergy is a worldwide problem, especially in industrialized countries where fish consumption is high. Fish contains a wide variety of proteins but, only few of them are responsible for triggering an allergic reaction. The major fish allergen, parvalbumin, is a low molecular weight (10-13 kD) heat-stable protein. High homology in amino acid sequences and antibody cross-reactivities have been demonstrated for parvalbumin in different fish species. Although several detection methods based on specific antibodies or DNA amplification are currently employed for detection of allergic components in food products, there is limited number of studies reporting methods for the detection of fish allergens. This study aimed to investigate the antigen binding characteristics of a monoclonal antibody (MAb) 3E1 by comparing its immunoreactivity against various fish and other animal species with a commercially available anti-frog parvalbumin monoclonal antibody (PARV-19) to evaluate the usefulness of MAb 3E1 as a anti-fish parvalbumin reagent. MAb 3E1 was previously developed in our laboratory against heat-treated catfish crude sarcoplasmic protein extract. The antigen binding characteristics of this antibody was investigated by comparing its immunoreactivity against soluble proteins extracts from various cooked fish and other animal meats with MAb PARV-19. Non-competitive indirect ELISA was performed to examine the immunoreactivity of both MAb 3E1 and MAb PARV-19 with sample extracts. Western blot was performed to compare the antigenic protein banding patterns in cooked fish extracts using these two MAbs. Results showed that MAb 3E1 cross reacted with majority of tested fish species and recognized a thermal-stable protein with a molecular weight range of parvalbumin in the extracts. Moreover, ELISA and western blot results revealed that both MAbs 3E1 and PARV-19 had almost identical reaction patterns to the fish species tested. The antigenic protein banding pattern in various fish species blotted by MAb 3E1 corresponds to the molecular weights of parvalbumins recognized by PARV-19. Additionally, both antibodies recognized exactly the same antigenic protein, parvalbumin, but their epitopes (binding sites) overlaped to the extend causing inhibitive binding on the protein. However, screening with non-finfish extracts revealed MAb 3E1 to be strictly finfish specific, while PARV-19 cross-reacted with frog, rat and rabbit extracts. The results obtained in this study clearly indicate that MAb 3E1 is specific to fish parvalbumin. It would, therefore, be a useful probe for investigating the major fish allergen in both raw and processed food. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Summer Semester, 2008. / June 23, 2008. / Monoclonal Antibody, Fish Allergen, Parvalbumin, Immunoassay, Heat-Stable Protein / Includes bibliographical references. / Yun-Hwa Peggy Hsieh, Professor Directing Thesis; Kenneth H. Roux, Outside Committee Member; Cathy W. Levenson, Committee Member.

Background: Being overweight or obese is associated with increased sympathetic activity and decreased vascular function which increases the cardiovascular risk. Current research has shown that conventional aerobic, resistance, and isometric exercise training has the capacity to elicit improvements in autonomic and cardiovascular function. Recently, exercise with whole-body vibration (WBV) has become of high interest to researchers in the field of exercise physiology due to its beneficial effects on bone mineral density, muscle mass, and muscle strength. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute and chronic effects of WBV on arterial and cardiac autonomic function in overweight and obese (OV/OB; Body mass index 28.3 ± 0.9 kg/m2) women. Methods: In a cross over design, eight young (21 ± 2 yr) OV/OB women were randomly assigned to either WBV training (WBVT) 3 days per week or 6 weeks of no-exercise (CON). After their assigned treatment period, the subjects underwent a 4 week washout period before beginning their next 6 week treatment period (either WBVT or CON). At the beginning and end of each period, brachial blood pressure (BP), heart rate variability (HRV), augmentation index (AIx), and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were obtained at rest and 3 min after (PE3) a 4 min bout of static squat with WBV at 30 Hz frequency and 1.0 mm amplitude. Maximal strength (1-RM) was assessed for the leg extension exercise. Measurements were repeated 6 week after WBVT and CON. Results: There were significant decreases (p < 0.05) in resting systolic BP (SBP, 8 ± 5 mmHg) and diastolic BP (4 ± 2 mmHg) after WBVT compared with CON (p < 0.05). There were significant decreases (p < 0.05) in heart rate (7 ± 4 bpm), SBP (5 ± 4 mmHg), and mean arterial pressure (7 ± 3 mmHg) at PE3 after WBVT compared with CON (p < 0.05). There was a significant increase (p < 0.01) in 1-RM (12 kg) after WBVT, but not after CON. There were no changes in HRV, AIx, and PWV after both WBVT and CON. Conclusion: These preliminary data indicate that 6 weeks of WBVT elicits reductions in resting and post-exercise BP in overweight-obese women. In addition, lower post-exercise HR suggests that cardiovagal regulation may improve after WBVT. Future research is needed to further evaluate this exercise mode as a potential adjunct treatment for cardiovascular diseases. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Spring Semester, 2011. / March 16, 2011. / Strength, Training, Exercise, Pulse, Cardiovascular, Autonomic, Vibration, Blood Pressure, Arterial Stiffness / Includes bibliographical references. / Arturo Figueroa, Professor Directing Thesis; Jeong-Su Kim, Committee Member; Maria Spicer, Committee Member; Volker Credé, Committee Member.

Caffeine is the most commonly used drug in the world, often consumed in the form of coffee, sodas, teas, energy drinks, and chocolate. It is also generally regarded as very safe to consume. As one of the most thoroughly investigated sport supplements, it has been well established as an ergogenic aid for endurance performance, and has been shown to increase time to exhaustion, increase mean power output during time trials, and decrease perceived exertion. The effects of caffeine on measures of muscular endurance and repeated anaerobic performance are currently much more equivocal, and elicit further investigation. The first purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Red Bull Energy Drink (2.0mg CAF/kg BW) on anaerobic power using repeated Wingate cycle performance compared to a placebo. Additionally, this study sought to determine the effects of Red Bull Energy Drink on elbow flexor muscle endurance compared to a placebo. The study used a double-blind, repeated-measures, crossover, counter-balanced design. The eighteen male subjects that participated in this study were between 18 and 35 years old, with a mean age of 23.4 years. They had a mean weight of 81.3 ± 10.2 kg, mean height of 1.81 ± 0.08 m, and mean BMI of 24.76 ± 2.89 kg/m2. Three to seven days after the familiarization trial, subjects will be randomly assigned to supplement with Red Bull (2.0 mg/kg caffeine) or an isovolumetric amount of placebo (non-caffeinated Mountain Dew) 60 minutes before performing the exercise tests. The Subjects performed three sets of maximal isokinetic elbow flexion for 60 seconds at 0.52 rad/s (separated by two minute rest intervals) on the Biodex System 3 Isokinetic Dynamometer. Following the isokinetic testing, subjects performed three 30-s Wingate anaerobic cycle tests (separated by two minute rest intervals) at a load corresponding to 0.075 kpal/kg body mass (Bar-Or, 1987). There was no significant difference found for Peak Torque or Decline in Peak Torque for elbow flexor muscle endurance compared to placebo. No significant difference was found in Peak Power and Mean Power for the Wingate Anaerobic Test. There was a significantly (p<0.05) greater decline in Mean Power and Relative Mean Power for Red Bull compared to placebo, inferring that there may be a detrimental effect on repeated anaerobic performance following ingestion. Decline in mean power from the first to the third set of Wingate testing was 182.15 +/- 59.97 W for Red Bull trials, and 153.87 +/- 67.08 W for placebo trials. The relative decline in mean power relative to each subject's body weight for Wingate testing was 2.25 +/- 0.751 W/kg for Red Bull trials, and 1.88 +/- 0.777 W/kg for placebo trials. While there is unlikely one single mechanism explaining the findings from this study, results may be partially explained by increased concentrations of lactate in either the blood or muscle, or lowered concentrations of plasma potassium following caffeine ingestion compared to placebo. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Summer Semester, 2011. / June 23, 2011. / Red Bull, caffeine, repeated anaerobic, muscle endurance, elbow flexor / Includes bibliographical references. / Emily
 M.
 Haymes, 1939-
, Professor Directing Thesis; Jodee 
L.
 Dorsey
, Committee Member; David
 W.
 Eccles
, Committee Member.