The considerable span of topics that derive from the study of nutrition, or at least that are contiguous to activities and interests of those who have generalized the use of that term, allows the inclusion of subject matter that is quite wide-ranging. For that reason, we attempt in the Annual Review of Nutrition to cover diverse subjects, everything from advancements in basic sciences to clinical investigations that ultimately bear on directions taken in public health. In regard to breadth, the increase in the number of Annual Reviews series, which now cover 26—going on 27—science disciplines, affords an array from which a would-be informed reader can find extensions of nutrition. In particular, most of the volumes that cover the biologic-biomedical sciences, as well as those that review newer findings in medicine or public health, not infrequently deal with topics of import to nutritionists. The reader should note on the pages following the Contents our suggestions of related articles proffered in current issues of other Annual Reviews.

To emphasize nutritional sciences, with the broad definition this term warrants, is a primary goal of the Annual Review of Nutrition. In this volume, the autobiographic chapter at the beginning covers interesting observations made by Harry Broquist, a nutritional biochemist who provided some of the fundamental knowledge of the metabolism of such essential nutrients as folate and lysine. The ongoing interest in lipids and the consequences that result from obesity-related diseases is discussed in several chapters. At the basic level, Bernlohr et al. review intracellular lipid-binding proteins, Jensen covers the contribution of regional fat to lipolysis, and Lowe reviews molecular-level knowledge of pancreatic lipase and colipase.

Articles dealing with the interconnections between carbohydrates and lipids include the reviews by Girard et al. and Towle et al. on carbohydrate regulation of gene expression of glycolytic and lipogenic enzymes. Further on lipids, Neville & Picciano review lipid secretion into milk. The cholesterol-raising factor in coffee beans is discussed by Urgert & Katan. At the medical end, Atkinson reviews current practice in drug treatment of obesity. Aspects of proteins ranging from hormonal regulation of the metabolism of muscle proteins reviewed by Rooyackers & Nair, lactation requirements covered by Dewey, and the special problems that arise in renal disease as reviewed by Maroni & Mitch are also topics in this volume. There are reviews on metal ions that relate to toxic as well as essential function in a chapter by Goyer, and on iron and copper as diversely functional in the phylogenetic scale from simple to complex organisms, reviewed by Winzerling & Law. The regulation of the biotin-dependent acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase is reviewed by Kim. What we eat as influenced by preferences, by neural system, and as a result of military issue is reviewed in chapters by Levine & Billington, Drewnowski, and Friedl & Hoyt, respectively. Dietary phytoestrogens and their potential actions are reviewed by Kurzer & Xu. The safety of our food from a microbiologic viewpoint is considered by Meng & Doyle. Other chapters help round out more recent considerations of such matters as body composition, reviewed by Heymsfield et al., and methods aimed at a more sophisticated understanding of both components and their dynamics. An example of this latter is the application of the technique of mass isotopomer analysis, reviewed by Brunengraber et al.. Finally, there are views that consider the assessments of nutritional status in age-diverse sections of the population. Zemel et al. consider anthropometry, body composition, and energy expenditure of children; Rush updates us on the need for nutrition screening in the elderly.

An update on people involved with the Annual Review of Nutrition should include the changes on the Editorial Committee. We thank Dr. Robert Rucker, who is rotating off the Committee, and welcome on board Michael D. Sitrin, MD, from the Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, and Susan K. Fried, PhD, from the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers University. Thanks, too, go to Drs. Dale Schoeller (Chicago) and Author Spector (Iowa), who were working guests at our past June editorial meeting. Again, topics and potential authors are suggested at our annual meetings and we welcome thoughtful input. An event of importance to all of us who serve on the Editorial Committee is that our Production Editor, Robbie Parmer, is continuing in that capacity in spite of her promotion to Managing Editor. I personally want to acknowledge the good services of Robbie and my Associate Editors, Drs. Denny Bier and Alan Goodridge. My final thanks go to all the authors who provided the reviews.

Donald B. McCormick, Editor