- Email: [email protected]
Vitamins and additives in the food of man and animals
Book reoiews
261
The editors hope that the volume may serve as a catalyst and source of reference for those who are concerned that the powerful new agriculture and food biotechnologies ought to be applied only in ways which are both appropriate and sustainable. The reviewer hopes that these new ways may supply enough food and fuel for the world’s population. The volume may be recommended not only to scientists in all fields of agriculture and associated disciplines, but also to philosophers, sociologists, economists, politicians, theologians, teachers and other scientists. PROF. DR. G. FLACHOWSKY Institute for Nutrition, Federal Agricultural Research Centre, Braunschweig-Wlkenrode (FAL) Germany PII SO377-8401(97)00002-3
Vitamins and additives in food Vitamins and additives in the food of man and animals. [Vitamine und Zusatzstoffe in der Emiihrung von Mensch und Tier] (in German), edited by R. Schubert, G. Flachowsky and R. Bitsch. 5th Symposium, University of Jena, Jena, 1995, 574 pp., ISBN 3.00 000 361-4. More than 200 contributors from 15 countries participated in the Symposium devoted mainly to the effect of vitamins and feed additives. The book of the Symposium includes 102 communications organized in five chapters---Chapter I: Vitamin A carotene and connected substances; Chapter II: Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and antioxidants; Chapter III: Vitamins B and C and other vitamins; Chapter IV: Enzymes and Chapter V: Probiotics, antibiotics and miscellaneous supplements. The aim of the organizing committee, belonging to the Institute of Nutrition and Environment of the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, was to bring together nutritionists and physicians concerned with feeds and the feeding of man and all farm animals (cows, pigs, poultry etc) or the use of laboratory animals. In general, the role of vitamins and feed additives in the regulation of the different physiological functions are considered, such as respiration, growth, reproduction, egg laying, and also their effect on recovery of patients and immunity. Additional considerations about the vitamin requirements of man and high performance animals are discussed in the Introduction. In the first chapter concerning Vitamin A, special attention has been paid to the absence of fetal malformations during chronic administration of high doses of Vitamin A to rats. Additional data about the conservation of the different forms of Vitamin A during storage and processing of food and feeds, including milk from several species has been intensively debated. Chapter II is mostly devoted to new data on absorption,
262
Book reviews
storage and the antioxidative effect of high inclusion levels vitamin E in the diet of several species. Its distribution in the different body tissues, and interaction with trace elements, especially selenium or hormonal contraceptives are also discussed. Chapter III includes 30 references concerning, in particular, the biological efficiency and the requirements of man for several vitamins of the B group. The effect of physiological status in childhood, old age and patients suffering chronic disease is assessed on the basis of experimental data. Moreover the consequences of chronic alcohol consumption and application of thiamine megadoses are investigated carefully in laboratory animal models. In Chapter IV the efficiency of phytic acid and phytase in human and animal nutrition is presented. In addition, the effect of non starch polysaccharide (NSP) degrading enzymes when added as a mixture or as single enzymes on the degradation and digestibility of polysaccharides is investigated in several kinds of feed distributed to various domestic species. The problems associated with the use of antibiotics in animal feeds and the alternative approach using probiotics is presented in Chapter V. The fate of dietary oligosaccharides on gut microflora is also investigated in chickens under stress. The presentation of all the scientific matter has been particulary well organized. Papers are standardized in length to 5-6 pages including a summary in English and German. In addition, the titles are translated in English and the book contains the list of authors and contributors to the conference. All the matter is of the utmost interest for research scientists as well as nutritionists engaged in man or animal feeding. Up to date results and hypotheses on the present trends in the use of vitamins and essential trace elements are presented. They are available to the reader interested in the subject, and who is prepared to make the effort to read the content in German. The content of the conference is of a high international standard in spite of the fact that the subject matter is no longer considered as a new, interesting field of research. A. AUMAITRE INRA Station de Recherches Porcines 35590 Saint Gilles France PII SO377-8401(97)00001-1
261
The editors hope that the volume may serve as a catalyst and source of reference for those who are concerned that the powerful new agriculture and food biotechnologies ought to be applied only in ways which are both appropriate and sustainable. The reviewer hopes that these new ways may supply enough food and fuel for the world’s population. The volume may be recommended not only to scientists in all fields of agriculture and associated disciplines, but also to philosophers, sociologists, economists, politicians, theologians, teachers and other scientists. PROF. DR. G. FLACHOWSKY Institute for Nutrition, Federal Agricultural Research Centre, Braunschweig-Wlkenrode (FAL) Germany PII SO377-8401(97)00002-3
Vitamins and additives in food Vitamins and additives in the food of man and animals. [Vitamine und Zusatzstoffe in der Emiihrung von Mensch und Tier] (in German), edited by R. Schubert, G. Flachowsky and R. Bitsch. 5th Symposium, University of Jena, Jena, 1995, 574 pp., ISBN 3.00 000 361-4. More than 200 contributors from 15 countries participated in the Symposium devoted mainly to the effect of vitamins and feed additives. The book of the Symposium includes 102 communications organized in five chapters---Chapter I: Vitamin A carotene and connected substances; Chapter II: Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and antioxidants; Chapter III: Vitamins B and C and other vitamins; Chapter IV: Enzymes and Chapter V: Probiotics, antibiotics and miscellaneous supplements. The aim of the organizing committee, belonging to the Institute of Nutrition and Environment of the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, was to bring together nutritionists and physicians concerned with feeds and the feeding of man and all farm animals (cows, pigs, poultry etc) or the use of laboratory animals. In general, the role of vitamins and feed additives in the regulation of the different physiological functions are considered, such as respiration, growth, reproduction, egg laying, and also their effect on recovery of patients and immunity. Additional considerations about the vitamin requirements of man and high performance animals are discussed in the Introduction. In the first chapter concerning Vitamin A, special attention has been paid to the absence of fetal malformations during chronic administration of high doses of Vitamin A to rats. Additional data about the conservation of the different forms of Vitamin A during storage and processing of food and feeds, including milk from several species has been intensively debated. Chapter II is mostly devoted to new data on absorption,
262
Book reviews
storage and the antioxidative effect of high inclusion levels vitamin E in the diet of several species. Its distribution in the different body tissues, and interaction with trace elements, especially selenium or hormonal contraceptives are also discussed. Chapter III includes 30 references concerning, in particular, the biological efficiency and the requirements of man for several vitamins of the B group. The effect of physiological status in childhood, old age and patients suffering chronic disease is assessed on the basis of experimental data. Moreover the consequences of chronic alcohol consumption and application of thiamine megadoses are investigated carefully in laboratory animal models. In Chapter IV the efficiency of phytic acid and phytase in human and animal nutrition is presented. In addition, the effect of non starch polysaccharide (NSP) degrading enzymes when added as a mixture or as single enzymes on the degradation and digestibility of polysaccharides is investigated in several kinds of feed distributed to various domestic species. The problems associated with the use of antibiotics in animal feeds and the alternative approach using probiotics is presented in Chapter V. The fate of dietary oligosaccharides on gut microflora is also investigated in chickens under stress. The presentation of all the scientific matter has been particulary well organized. Papers are standardized in length to 5-6 pages including a summary in English and German. In addition, the titles are translated in English and the book contains the list of authors and contributors to the conference. All the matter is of the utmost interest for research scientists as well as nutritionists engaged in man or animal feeding. Up to date results and hypotheses on the present trends in the use of vitamins and essential trace elements are presented. They are available to the reader interested in the subject, and who is prepared to make the effort to read the content in German. The content of the conference is of a high international standard in spite of the fact that the subject matter is no longer considered as a new, interesting field of research. A. AUMAITRE INRA Station de Recherches Porcines 35590 Saint Gilles France PII SO377-8401(97)00001-1