101
the authors may, if they wish, also include other units, such as weights or international units,
in parentheses.
See Metric Units, Conversion Factors and omenclature in utritional and Food Sciences
(1972) paras 8 and 14–20. London: The Royal Society.
omenclature of fatty acids and lipids. In the description of results obtained for the analysis
of fatty acids by conventional GLC, the shorthand designation proposed by Farquhar JW,
Insull W, Rosen P, Stoffel W & Ahrens EH (utrition Reviews (1959), 17, Suppl.) for
individual fatty acids should be used in the text, tables and figures. Thus, 18 : 1 should be
used to represent a fatty acid with eighteen carbon atoms and one double bond; if the position
and configuration of the double bond is unknown. The shorthand designation should also be
used in the abstract. If the positions and configurations of the double bonds are known, and
these are important to the discussion, then a fatty acid such as linoleic acid may be referred to
as cis-9,cis-12-18 : 2 (positions of double bonds related to the carboxyl carbon atom 1).
However, to illustrate the metabolic relationship between different unsaturated fatty acid
families, it is sometimes more helpful to number the double bonds in relation to the terminal
methyl carbon atom, n. The preferred nomenclature is then: 18 : 3n-3 and 18 : 3n-6 for α-
linolenic and γ-linolenic acids respectively; 18 : 2n-6 and 20 : 4n-6 for linoleic and
arachidonic acids respectively and 18 : 1n-9 for oleic acid. Positional isomers such as α- and
γ-linolenic acid should always be clearly distinguished. It is assumed that the double bonds
are methylene-interrupted and are of the cis-configuration (see Holman RT in Progress in the
Chemistry of Fats and Other Lipids (1966) vol. 9, part 1, p. 3. Oxford: Pergamon Press).
Groups of fatty acids that have a common chain length but vary in their double bond content
or double bond position should be referred to, for example, as C20 fatty acids or C20 PUFA.
The modern nomenclature for glycerol esters should be used, i.e. triacylglycerol,
diacylglycerol, monoacylglycerol not triglyceride, diglyceride, monoglyceride. The form of
fatty acids used in diets should be clearly stated, i.e. whether ethyl esters, natural or refined
fats or oils. The composition of the fatty acids in the dietary fat and tissue fats should be
stated clearly, expressed as mol/100 mol or g/100 g total fatty acids.
omenclature of micro-organisms. The correct name of the organism, conforming with
international rules of nomenclature, should be used: if desired, synonyms may be added in
parentheses when the name is first mentioned. Names of bacteria should conform to the
current Bacteriological Code and the opinions issued by the International Committee on
Systematic Bacteriology. Names of algae and fungi must conform to the current International
Code of Botanical Nomenclature. Names of protozoa should conform to the current
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.
omenclature of plants. For plant species where a common name is used that may not be
universally intelligible, the Latin name in italics should follow the first mention of the
common name. The cultivar should be given where appropriate.
Other nomenclature, symbols and abbreviations. Authors should consult recent issues of
the British Journal of utrition for guidance. The IUPAC rules on chemical nomenclature
should be followed, and the Recommendations of the IUPAC-IUB Commission on
Biochemical Nomenclature (see Biochemical Journal (1978) 169, 11–14). The symbols and
abbreviations, other than units, are essentially those listed in British Standard 5775 (1979–
1982), Specifications for Quantities, Units and Symbols, parts 0–13. Day should be
abbreviated to d, for example 7 d, except for ‘each day’, ‘7th day’ and ‘day 1’.
Elements and simple chemicals (e.g. Fe and CO2) can be referred to by their chemical symbol
(with the exception of arsenic and iodine, which should be written in full) or formula from the
first mention in the text; the title, text and table headings, and figure legends can be taken as
exceptions,. Well-known abbreviations for chemical substances may be used without
explanation, thus: RNA for ribonucleic acid and DNA for deoxyribonucleic acid. Other