- Email: [email protected]
New protective roles for selected nutrients
Fatty Acids That Are Good for You New Protective lected Nutrients
Roles
for
Se-
Gene A. Spillar and James Scala, eds. New York, Alan R. Liss, 1989 (xi + 357 pp) ISBN 0-471-51.595-7. Volume 22 of Current Topics in Nutrition and Disease The growing interest of endocrinologists in research and management of diseases involving lipids makes a book on dietary “protective” lipids important to many readers of Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism. Is this the volume to have on your bookshelf? The preface promises information about “protective nutrients, whose lack does not lead to classical deficiency states,” such as p-carotene, linoleic acid derivatives, including di-homo-y-linoleic acid [20: 3n-61 and y-linoleic acid [ 18: 3n-61, R-3 fatty acids, taurine, compounds from garlic, and fibers. Unfortunately, the message did not get through to the contributors, who focused mainly on the essentiality of the nutrients. The only chapter to adhere to the promise of the preface is the one on compounds from garlic! Few of the chapters deal with humans. Moreover, the writing is
repetitive, wanders among many subjects, and uses inappropriate examples. Coverage of the various nutrients is uneven with two chapters devoted to ,& carotene and to a-3 fatty acids, one chapter to the two linoleic acids, and one to each of the other nutrients. Page distribution among the chapters is also uneven, with 120 pages devoted to the biochemical aspect and only 24 pages for the clinical and epidemiological aspects of a-3 fatty acids. A total of 8 pages is devoted to dietary fiber. The recent publications on fiber, shortchain fatty acids, and the gastrointestinal tract would have made interesting reading but are not. mentioned. The bibliography for many of the reviews is dated. The title claims “new” protective roles for the selected nutrients; yet many of the references date back to the 19.50s and 60s. Few references are more recent than 1985, which suggests that the material is not stateof-the-art. While the volume has many shortcomings, there are some good points to the book. The chapter on compounds from garlic is very interesting, and
Why wait for it to circulate?
most of the references are from the 1980s. The chapter on biochemical aspects of R-3 fatty acids offers a wealth of biochemical information on the mctabolism of these acids and also extensive tabular data on fatty acid composition of platelets, internal organs, liver, red blood cells, milk and milk formulas, and various food sources. It might be worth while to have all this handy in a single volume. I cannot recommend this book for updating or for historical background on the topic suggested by its title. The information presented seldom addresses protective roles, particularly for humans. The only reason for adding this volume to your library would be to complete the Cuwent Topics in Nutrition and Disease series. To learn about protective roles for nutrients, the journal Nutrition Reviews is strongly recommended. TEM
Ronald H. Birkhahn Departments of Surgery and Biochemistq Medical College of Ohio Toledo, OH, LlSA
Read your own copy of
Trends in Endocrinology and
ta&o-lism!
If you share TEM with others at work, you know that what goes around doesn’t always come around. And if it does, articles are often dated or sometimes even clipped. Why miss a single issue, or wait weeks to read one? By starting your personal subscription, for just $48 you’ll be guaranteed to read each and every issue. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism’s short reviews on “hot” topics can make a difference in your practice and research. Commissioned clinicians and researchers report on advances in reproductive endocrinology, developmental endocrinology, metabolism, biochemistry, diabetes and insulin action, thyroid hormone action, obesity, neuroendocrinology, molecular and cellular biology and host of other areas. From resident to experienced clinician, post-doe to lab director, graduate student to professor --all can rely on TEMfor the latest updates and insights into the cutting edge of endocrinology. USE THE BUSINESS REPLY CARDS IN THIS ISSUE TO ORDER YOUR PERSONAL SUBSCRIPTION TODAY--OR CALL ELSEVIER CUSTOMER SERVICE AT (212) 633-3950, FAX (212)
280
633-3880.
0 1990, Elsevier Science Publishing
Co., Inc., 1043-2760190/$2.00
TEM May/June
Roles
for
Se-
Gene A. Spillar and James Scala, eds. New York, Alan R. Liss, 1989 (xi + 357 pp) ISBN 0-471-51.595-7. Volume 22 of Current Topics in Nutrition and Disease The growing interest of endocrinologists in research and management of diseases involving lipids makes a book on dietary “protective” lipids important to many readers of Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism. Is this the volume to have on your bookshelf? The preface promises information about “protective nutrients, whose lack does not lead to classical deficiency states,” such as p-carotene, linoleic acid derivatives, including di-homo-y-linoleic acid [20: 3n-61 and y-linoleic acid [ 18: 3n-61, R-3 fatty acids, taurine, compounds from garlic, and fibers. Unfortunately, the message did not get through to the contributors, who focused mainly on the essentiality of the nutrients. The only chapter to adhere to the promise of the preface is the one on compounds from garlic! Few of the chapters deal with humans. Moreover, the writing is
repetitive, wanders among many subjects, and uses inappropriate examples. Coverage of the various nutrients is uneven with two chapters devoted to ,& carotene and to a-3 fatty acids, one chapter to the two linoleic acids, and one to each of the other nutrients. Page distribution among the chapters is also uneven, with 120 pages devoted to the biochemical aspect and only 24 pages for the clinical and epidemiological aspects of a-3 fatty acids. A total of 8 pages is devoted to dietary fiber. The recent publications on fiber, shortchain fatty acids, and the gastrointestinal tract would have made interesting reading but are not. mentioned. The bibliography for many of the reviews is dated. The title claims “new” protective roles for the selected nutrients; yet many of the references date back to the 19.50s and 60s. Few references are more recent than 1985, which suggests that the material is not stateof-the-art. While the volume has many shortcomings, there are some good points to the book. The chapter on compounds from garlic is very interesting, and
Why wait for it to circulate?
most of the references are from the 1980s. The chapter on biochemical aspects of R-3 fatty acids offers a wealth of biochemical information on the mctabolism of these acids and also extensive tabular data on fatty acid composition of platelets, internal organs, liver, red blood cells, milk and milk formulas, and various food sources. It might be worth while to have all this handy in a single volume. I cannot recommend this book for updating or for historical background on the topic suggested by its title. The information presented seldom addresses protective roles, particularly for humans. The only reason for adding this volume to your library would be to complete the Cuwent Topics in Nutrition and Disease series. To learn about protective roles for nutrients, the journal Nutrition Reviews is strongly recommended. TEM
Ronald H. Birkhahn Departments of Surgery and Biochemistq Medical College of Ohio Toledo, OH, LlSA
Read your own copy of
Trends in Endocrinology and
ta&o-lism!
If you share TEM with others at work, you know that what goes around doesn’t always come around. And if it does, articles are often dated or sometimes even clipped. Why miss a single issue, or wait weeks to read one? By starting your personal subscription, for just $48 you’ll be guaranteed to read each and every issue. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism’s short reviews on “hot” topics can make a difference in your practice and research. Commissioned clinicians and researchers report on advances in reproductive endocrinology, developmental endocrinology, metabolism, biochemistry, diabetes and insulin action, thyroid hormone action, obesity, neuroendocrinology, molecular and cellular biology and host of other areas. From resident to experienced clinician, post-doe to lab director, graduate student to professor --all can rely on TEMfor the latest updates and insights into the cutting edge of endocrinology. USE THE BUSINESS REPLY CARDS IN THIS ISSUE TO ORDER YOUR PERSONAL SUBSCRIPTION TODAY--OR CALL ELSEVIER CUSTOMER SERVICE AT (212) 633-3950, FAX (212)
280
633-3880.
0 1990, Elsevier Science Publishing
Co., Inc., 1043-2760190/$2.00
TEM May/June