Individual differences range

Substantial individual differences were observed in the response to study breads and the ranges of enterolactone concentration changes in the groups were as follows -54.5-60.0 nmol/1 (placebo), -26.2-101.3 nmol/1 (LP), -19.6-81.8 nmol/1 (HP). This was something that could have been expected as in several studies dietary factors have explained only 10% of the variation in serum enterolactone (Vanharanta et al, 2002b Kilkkinen et al., 2001). This gives further support to the major role of intestinal bacteria in the synthesis of enterolactone. Decreased concentrations of enterolactone may occur due to an increased fiber intake, which may shorten the retention time in the colon and lead to incomplete metabolism of plant lignans. Constipation was earlier shown to be associated with an increased level of serum enterolactone (Kilkkinen et al., 2001). 

The flow distribution was far from ideal [23]. Collected volumes at the individual outlets ranged from 2.15 to 3.65 ml, thus, differing by more than 50% at maximum. This was seen to be due to differences in pressure drops resulting from imperfections in microfabrication. 

From the comparison by Nyman et al. between plasma Hp level and different red cell destruction indices (half-life of CrB1-tagged erythrocytes, endogenous CO formation, stercobilin (urobilin) excretion in feces) it is evident that anhaptoglobinemia is a very common, but not an invariable accompaniment of increased red cell turnover. The exceptions are possibly persons with increased Hp synthesis. Individual differences in efficiency to destroy red cells outside the circulation without Hb return may be reflected by the wide normal variation range of plasma Hp as well by the promptness with which anhaptoglobinemia develops on even slight increase in Hb turnover. 

The glucose values are worthy of attention because of the large number of determinations that have been made in many laboratories. There is evidence of substantial intra-individual variation in glucose values which is in part responsible for the range of the observed values.33,34 In spite of this normal variance in values in the same individual, however, there is evidence that inter-individual differences exist among well people. Some, on repeated tests, tend to have low values, some intermediate, and some high. 

The acetylcholine values show an unusually wide spread. Although no specific study has apparently been made to ascertain the magnitude of intra-individual differences, relative constancy of values in the same individual seems to be taken for granted, and the range of values is reported to be at a higher level for those suffering from bronchial asthma.28... 

First, the tabulated ranges are often based upon observations of 50, 20, 10, or even 5 or less individuals. Such numbers are wholly inadequate to represent a large population. If inter-individual differences are as wide-spread as we suspect them to be, then the observed... 

In a third investigation, in which sodium-(3-glycerophosphate was used as the substrate, Tuba, et al.,3 have found both the spring and fall acid phosphatase values for adults to vary through the same range, 0.0 to 1.2 units. For children, boys and girls alike, the range was 0.0 to 1.6 units. No attention was paid to inter-individual differences. 

Study of plasma catalase activity on an individual basis has been limited in scope. For 50 adults the range was found to be from 4.2 to 9.5 per ml. of plasma. 19 One of the normal individuals was studied for five days, and the following values were obtained 9.5, 8.5, 9.5, 7.0, 9.5. Further study is required before one could conclude definitely that there are significant inter-individual differences. The available evidence points in that direction. In various anemias the values may be 50 or more. In one "diagnostic problem case" the value was 42. It seems highly probable that "normal" differences have physiological significance. 

Excretion of thiamine appears to vary from individual to individual,23 and some other data are available regarding the other better-known B vitamins.24 The differences in the excretion of nicotinic acid-like compounds strongly suggest the existence of individual pattems.25,26 The urinary excretion of vitamin B12, folic acid, and the citrovorum factor by different individuals, even on controlled diets, was found to vary through rather wide ranges (2- to 9-fold) though the study was not concerned with individual differences and individual patterns were not established. 27... 

The zinc content of blood, particularly the plasma fraction, showed wide variations (50 to 650 ig. per cent) when determinations were made on 31 normal individuals. In one case only were repeated observations on the same individual reported the values in this case showed a range from 90 to 330 ig. during fifteen consecutive days, and the magnitude of inter-individual differences, if present, cannot be ascertained.20 It is the experience in our laboratory that some individuals may exhibit relatively wide fluctuations when specific values are being measured, but that other individuals in the same series may fail to exhibit substantial fluctuation with respect to the same item. 

Little attention has been paid to the question of inter-individual differences in amino acid requirements. In the attempts to determine what the human adult requirements for individual essential amino acids are (for maintaining nitrogen equilibrium), studies have been made on individual young men. The following inter-individual ranges... 

Sensitivity selection of panelists as a function of their individual thresholds of perception on 5 pure products. Interindividual differences ranging between 1 and 1000 are accepted, as it really occurs. 

Thus, not only will the pumps needed to achieve these pressures in the various vacuum ranges differ, but also different vacuum gauges will be required. A clear arrangement of pumps and measurement instruments for the individual pressure ranges is shown in Figures 9.16 and 9.16a in Chapter 9. 

The next generation of studies should aim to apply more rigorous tests of neuroendocrinology of PTSD based on the appropriate developmental issues and in consideration of the longitudinal course of the disorder, and the individual differences that affect these processes. No doubt such studies will require a closer examination of a wide range of biologic responses, including... 

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