Pakistan Journal of Nutrition is a leading international peer-reviewed journal, published by Science Insights, covering research on human and clinical nutrition, animal nutrition and basic science as applied to nutrition. The Journal recognizes the multidisciplinary nature of nutritional science and includes material from all of the specialties involved in nutrition research, including molecular and cell biology and the emerging area of nutritional genomics.
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Transcriptional Expression of CAV1 in Total and Adipose Tissue-Derived Exosomes is Associated with Diet Quality, Adiponectin Levels, Alcohol Consumption, Diastolic Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Risk Assessed by The Colombian Framingham Scale in Adults from Cartagena
Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the associations between CAV1 mRNA expression in total exosomes (TE) and adipose tissue–derived exosomes (AT-Exo) in the blood of adults across normal weight, overweight, obesity and obesity-related comorbidities, with dietary quality and patterns, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, blood biochemical parameters and cardiovascular risk assessed by anthropometry and by international and Colombian Framingham scales. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted including 136 adults of both sexes, screened between September 2023 and January 2024 in Cartagena. Participants underwent clinical evaluation, including medical history, anthropometric measurements and assessments of nutritional status and physical activity. Blood samples were collected for biochemical and molecular analyses. Plasma pools were generated and total exosomes were isolated by differential ultracentrifugation and purified using a sucrose cushion. Adipose tissue-derived exosomes were subsequently isolated from each pool through immunomagnetic positive selection. Both TE and AT-Exo were characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis. Exosomal CAV1 mRNA expression was quantified using RT-qPCR. Results: CAV1 was overexpressed in total exosomes from individuals with obesity, type 2 diabetes and hypertension and this overexpression was associated with increased adiponectin levels, poor dietary quality and lower diastolic blood pressure. Similarly, CAV1 was overexpressed in adipose tissue-derived exosomes from overweight and obese individuals, as well as those with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. In this fraction, increased expression was associated with poor dietary quality and lower cardiovascular risk as estimated by the Colombian Framingham scale and showed inverse associations with alcohol consumption and physical activity. Conclusion: CAV1 expression in adipose tissue and its incorporation into circulating exosomes are associated with obesity and related metabolic disorders. These alterations appear to be modulated by environmental and lifestyle factors, suggesting a potential role for exosomal CAV1 in the regulation and assessment of cardiovascular risk.
Copyright (c) 2026 Deivis Javier Villanueva-Pájaro, Moisés Alberto Árquez-Mendoza, Carmiña Lucía Vargas-Zapata https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Specialists' Perspectives on Functional Egg Production: Awareness, Health Implications, and Regulatory Frameworks in Sudan
Background and Objective: Functional eggs constitute a promising nutritional innovation aimed at mitigating micronutrient deficiencies and improving public health outcomes. This study assessed the perspectives of specialists and researchers on the production, health benefits, and regulatory requirements of functional eggs in Sudan. Materials and Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted among 100 participants, including 37 specialists comprising animal nutritionists, veterinarians, and academic researchers. Data were collected using a structured online questionnaire administered via Google Forms and analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics in SPSS. Results: Specialists demonstrated the highest level of familiarity with functional eggs among all stakeholder groups, with 75.7% reporting good or very high knowledge. Scientific literature was the primary information source for 45.9% of respondents. Omega-3 fatty acids were identified as the most effective enrichment component (45.9%), and heart health (43.2%) and cognitive support (24.3%) were the most widely recognized scientifically validated benefits. However, respondents identified notable risks, particularly feed contamination (37.8%) and excessive additive use (32.4%). Key priorities for sector development included increased research funding (70.3%) and enhanced producer training (62.2%). Although 51.4% of specialists expressed strong willingness to recommend functional eggs, 61.1% perceived consumer awareness as low. Conclusion: Sudanese specialists exhibit substantial technical readiness to support the development of a functional egg industry. Its success will depend on the establishment of robust regulatory frameworks, quality certification systems, and sustained research funding to mitigate safety risks and reduce the gap between scientific knowledge and consumer awareness.
Copyright (c) 2026 Intisar Yousif Turki, Maareb Gaffer Mohamed Saeed https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Assessment of Nutritive and Anti-Nutritive Composition of Ocimum gratissimum (Scent) Leaves
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the nutritive composition and anti-nutritional factors of Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf) to assess its nutritional quality and potential health implications when consumed as a vegetable. Materials and Methods: Fresh leaves of Ocimum gratissimum were analyzed using standard analytical procedures to determine their proximate composition, mineral content and anti-nutritional constituents, including oxalate, nitrate and cyanide. Results: The proximate analysis revealed that Ocimum gratissimum leaves contained 77.70% moisture, 3.14% ash, 4.09% crude fat, 5.36% crude protein, 5.48% crude fibre, 4.23% carbohydrate and an energy value of 314.36 kJ. Mineral analysis showed calcium and magnesium contents of 15.00 mg/100 g and 23.00 mg/100 g, respectively. The low sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio suggests that consumption of the leaves may not predispose individuals to hypertension. Furthermore, the levels of oxalate, nitrate and cyanide were found to be below the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limits. Conclusion: The findings indicate that Ocimum gratissimum leaves are a nutritionally valuable vegetable with low levels of anti-nutritional factors. The consumption of scent leaf is therefore unlikely to pose health risks and may contribute beneficially to dietary mineral and nutrient intake.
Copyright (c) 2026 I.J. Alinnor, P. Usman, I.C. Chinagorom https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Effects of Natural and Artificial Drying Methods on the Nutritional Value and Functional Properties of Vegetables Grown in Sudan
Background and Objective: The processing technique of drying or dehydration is probably the oldest method practiced by human kind for food preservation. The removal of water from food during this process has been found to prevent microbial growth and enzymatic and nonenzymatic reactions and therefore, the dried food materials can be easily stored under normal ambient temperature. The purpose of this research was to study the effects of natural and artificial drying methods on the nutritional value and functional properties of some locally grown vegetables in Sudan, namely, potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) and carrots (Daucus carota). Materials and Methods: The previously mentioned fresh vegetables were divided into two different groups. The first group of fresh vegetable samples was dried under natural convection air flow at room temperature (33-35°C) for three days, while the second group was put in a cabinet dryer for six hours at 75°C. Then, the vegetable samples before and after drying were investigated for their chemical composition and physico-chemical characteristics. Results: The natural drying method used in this study was found to decrease the moisture contents in fresh potatoes, tomatoes and carrots from 79.87, 94.17 and 88.27 to 7.12, 5.45 and 4.62%, respectively. Meanwhile, the artificial drying method decreased their moisture contents to 6.23, 5.04 and 3.43%, respectively. In general, the concentrations of dry matter and protein in vegetable raw materials that were dried with the artificial method were found to be higher than those of the same vegetables that were dried naturally at room temperature. In contrast, the naturally dried vegetables recorded higher percentages of reducing sugars in potatoes (0.32%), tomatoes (20.80%) and carrots (5.78%) on a wet basis. On the other hand, the vegetable samples that were dried by the cabinet dryer were found to have better functional properties in comparison with the naturally dried samples. All of the artificially dried vegetable samples were found to have higher bulk density (0.909, 0.619 and 0.781 g mL–1) and water solubility (11.097, 13.484 and 19.071 g/100 g) values along with lower rehydration (24.53, 15.99 and 13.18%) and water absorption index (1.64, 3.32 and 5.56 g gel g–1 DM) values in potatoes, tomatoes and carrots, respectively. Conclusion: This study found that the fresh potatoes, tomatoes and carrots could be easily dried naturally under convection air flow or by using a cabinet dryer at home or at industrial levels for the production of dried vegetable products with high nutritional values and acceptable functional properties.
Copyright (c) 2019 The Author(s) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake among Undergraduate Students in a Public University in Malaysia
Background and Objective: Reduction in sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake is one of the World Health Organization’s recommendations to reduce noncommunicable disease burden. The prevalence of SSB consumption was highest among young adults. The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of SSBs and factors associated with their consumption among undergraduate students in a residential area in one of the public universities in Malaysia. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using a pretested, validated, self-administered questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, level of knowledge, family history of diabetes and lifestyle pattern. High SSB intake was defined as an intake of three or more SSBs in a day. Height and weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Results: A total of 401 students responded with a response rate of 77.9%. The mean age was 21.3 years (95% CI = 21.20-21.48). The prevalence of at least once daily SSB intake and high SSB intake was 89.3 and 53.3%, respectively. Predictors for high SSB consumption were being men (OR = 2.19, 95% CI 1.07-4.48), having a low family income (OR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.12-3.76) and having a high level of fast food intake (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.03-3.22). Conclusion: The prevalence of SSB consumption was high among undergraduate students. Innovative health promotion strategies need to be implemented to reduce SSB consumption.
Fatty acids and Macroelements of Moringa (M. peregrina and M. oleifera) Seed Oils
Background and Objective: Recent years have shown increased interest in cultivating Moringa and producing its oil in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to determine the fatty acids and macroelements in oils from two species of Moringa [M. peregrina (MP) and M. oleifera (MO)] seeds. Methodology: MP oils were extracted using solvent- and pressing-based methods and MO oils were extracted using a solvent-based method. The fatty acid composition and macroelement contents in the oil samples were determined through gas chromatography (GC) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), respectively. Results: The approximate chemical composition of Moringa seeds showed that the MP seeds exhibited a higher oil content (49.19%) than the MO seeds (33.69%), whereas the MO seeds had significantly higher contents of protein (37.78%), fiber (5.10%) and ash (3.69%) than the MP seeds (27.67, 4.86 and 2.56%, respectively). The dominant fatty acids in Moringa oils were saturated palmitic acid and monounsaturated oleic acid, which were present in content ranges of 8.99-78.05% and 9.86-77.33% in the solvent- and press-extracted MP oils, respectively. These amounts were considered significantly higher than the amounts found in solvent-extracted MO oil (6.18-74.87%), which has significantly higher potassium and magnesium contents (36.67 and 5.86 ppm) than solvent-extracted MP oil (9.07 and 0.95 ppm) and the determined macroelements were found at undetectable levels in the press-extracted MP oils. Conclusion: This study spotlights the possibility of producing edible oil from local Moringa seeds that contains a high monounsaturated fatty acid (oleic acid) content and satisfactory concentrations of potassium and magnesium and can thus be used in different applications.
Copyright (c) 2018 The Author(s) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Anthropometric Indices as Determinants of Health Status among Primary School Children in the Delta South-Senatorial District, Delta State, Nigeria
Background and Objective: Anthropometric indices provide information on growth rates and body size. They reflect the status of nutrition and therefore of health status. The purpose of this study was to assess the health of primary school children between 6 and 12 years of age in the Delta South-Senatorial District through the use of anthropometric measures [weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC)]. Materials and Methods: An exploratory design was used for this study. The sample was 480 primary school children. One research question and one hypothesis were used to guide the study. The instruments used were a scale for weighing, a stadiometer and a handheld measuring tape. Participants had their weight, height and mid-upper-arm circumference assessed through weighing and measurement. BMI was calculated from weight and height (kg)/(wt)2. The data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics and multiple regression with alpha at 0.05. Results: In this study, the mean weight of participants was 26.81±2.21 kg, height was 1.21±1.91 m, BMI was 18.36 2.86 and MUAC was 17.71.91; these values were compared with the reference or international standard values for weight (23.08±5.09 kg), height (1.22±0.11 m), BMI (15.08±0.76) and MUAC (19.8±2.82 cm), respectively. The anthropometric indices recorded in this study were significant with reference to WHO and UNICEF international standards. Conclusion: This study found that the anthropometric indices of participants compared favorably with those of their counterparts in other parts of the world. It is recommended that periodic surveillance be carried out to detect defeats and intervention applied if needed.
Influence of Different Protein Levels and Protein to Energy Ratios on Growth, Feed Efficiency and Survival of Bonylip Barb (Osteochilus vittatus Cyprinidae) Fingerlings
Background and Objective: Bonylip barb Osteochilus vittatus (O. vittatus) is a freshwater fish with economic value. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of protein levels and energy levels on the growth, feed efficiency and survival of O. vittatus fingerlings. Materials and Methods: A 3×2 factorial feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the production response of bonylip barb fingerling fish (O. vittatus). Six diets containing 3 protein levels (28, 30 and 32%) and 2 protein-energy ratios (12 and 14) were formulated and fed to triplicate groups of O. vittatus fingerlings (3.77±0.02 g/fish) for 60 days. The formulated diets were P28E12, P28E14, P30E12, P30E14, P32E12 and P32E14 (P-protein and E-energy). Results: Fish fed diets with the lowest protein and highest energy combination (P28E14) had the lowest growth performance. The percent weight gain, specific rate growth, feed conversion ratio, feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio of O. vittatus fingerlings was highest with the 32% crude protein feed and a protein-energy ratio of 12 (P32E12). Meanwhile, the best fat retention was found in the P28E14 treatment. The protein retention and survival rate showed no significant effect (p>0.05) between treatments. Conclusion: Feed with 32% crude protein and a protein-energy ratio of 12 is good for growth, feed efficiency and survival of O. vittatus fingerlings.
Production, Viscosity, Microbiological Quality and Sensory Properties of Complementary Food Blends of Improved Rice Cultivars, Soybean and Sorghum Malt
Production methods, viscosity, microbiological quality and organoleptic properties of complementary food formulations from mixtures of improved rice cultivars (broken fractions of FARO 44, FARO 52, NERICA L – 34, NERICA L – 19) and local rice (yar Mubi), sorghum malt and soybean (Glycine max - yar Jalingo) flour blends used for infant formulas were characterized. A 5x2x2 factorial in a completely randomized design comprising 5 rice cultivars, sorghum malt (0.5%) and soybean flour (0, 30%) were used to produce 20 formulations that were evaluated for viscosity, microbiological and sensory properties. Appropriate blends with suitable viscosity for infant feeding were considered as criteria for subsequent studies (70% rice, 30% soybeans with malt). Viscosity of 10% and 20% gruel of rice cultivars, sorghum cultivar, sorghum malt and soybean flours ranged from 1035.33 to 1957.73 cp and 1816.53 to 3024.57 cp, respectively. Gruel prepared with malt had reduced viscosity compared to that where malt was added later. Microbial analysis revealed a total plate count of 2.0 x 106 to 7.2 x 106 CFU/g, an aerobic plate count of 1.76 x 106 to 4.1 x 106 CFU/g and a yeast-mould count of 0.1 x 106 to 0.2 x 106 CFU/g. The bacterial species isolated included Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus thuringiensis and Micrococcus species. Fungi species isolated included Rhodotorula Sp., Aspergillus Sp., Mucor Sp. and Alternaria Sp. Sensory attribute studies of 20 weaning mothers showed no significant (P>0.05) variation compared to conventionally complementary food. Complementary food formulations with a broken fraction of rice basis thus mimicked high-grade conventional complementary rice food (Friso-Gold) in terms of sensory attributes.
Copyright (c) 2016 Asian Network for Scientific Information https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Levels of Some Essential Elements in Pregnant Women and Association with Low Birth Weight of Babies in Benin City
Poor foetal growth and development has been associated with maternal inadequate or under-nutrition. There is no agreement as to whether dietary macro and micro-nutrient supplementation in pregnancy enhance neonatal birth weight. This study evaluates the levels of magnesium, calcium, albumin and phosphorus in pregnant women at delivery, the proportion of the neonates with low birth weight and the relationship between these essential elements and neonatal birth weight. A total of 300 subjects were enrolled, which included 200 healthy pregnant women and 100 age-matched non-pregnant women (controls). The concentrations of essential elements in maternal blood were measured using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry and colorimetric methods. The concentrations of magnesium and albumin were significantly (p<0.001) higher in women who had babies with low birth weight than those had normal birth weight. Conversely, calcium (p = 0.002) and phosphorus (p<0.001) levels were significantly lower in women who had babies with low birth weight compared with those that had babies with normal birth weight. The levels of measured variables in the pregnant women at delivery were significantly lower (p<0.001) compared with controls. Supplementation of some of these essential elements may help to prevent the delivery of infants with low birth weight. Therefore measurement of these essential elements may be considered important as part of the routine antenatal investigations.
Vitamin D Status in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Makkah Region of Saudi Arabia
Deficiency of vitamin D is still a worldwide health problem. Although the sun is replete all over the year in Saudi Arabia, it has been shown that deficiency of vitamin D is an important health problem. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)-D] in type 2 diabetic patients (T2DM) compared to control healthy subjects. A randomized case-control study was conducted and a total of 200 subjects were equally categorized in each group. A detailed basic information questionnaire was used. Serum levels of 25(OH)-D and others related biochemical analysis were also measured. According to our results, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) in age, serum 25(OH)-D level, parathyroid hormone (PTH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and BMI between case and control groups. On the other hand, there was a significant inverse relationship between age and serum 25(OH)-D level (r = -0.37, p<0.05), while a significant positive correlation between serum 25(OH)-D and intakes of vitamin D (r = 0.33, p<0.05) was observed. The mean value of serum 25(OH)-D was significantly higher (p<0.05) for the subjects who regularly played outdoor physical activities than those subjects who did not play regularly. Respect of income, the mean value of serum 25(OH)-D for subjects with low income was significantly (p<0.05) higher than those subjects with high income. Additionally, the mean value of serum 25(OH)-D for subjects who can write and read was significantly (p<0.05) higher than those illiterate subjects and subjects hold a university degree. The mean value of serum 25(OH)-D level for small family size was significantly (p<0.05) higher than those with large family size. The subjects in our study were generally deficient in 25(OH)-D irrespective of having T2DM, indicating a greater need for vitamin D supplementation.
Tomato Extract as an Immunomodulator in Mice (Mus musculus) Infected with Plasmodium berghei
To prevent malaria, it is necessary to increase the immune response in the body and reduce disease severity by eradicating the parasites within the body. Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill) is believed to be able to increase the immune response to combat infection. The current study examined 5 different treatment conditions and each treatment was repeated 6 times. The negative control group (K-) was given standard nourishment, while the positive control group (K+) received both standard nourishment and chloroquine treatment. Groups P1, P2 and P3 were given standard nourishment, as well as a dose of 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/kg BW (body weight)/day tomato extract, respectively. Each group of mice was intraperitoneally infected with 107 cells/mL Plasmodium berghei. On the 8th day post infection, the mice were sacrificed and lymphocytes and macrophages were isolated and subsequently cultured. The expression levels of IL-12 and IFN-γ, as well as the macrophage phagocytosis index of the cells, were then determined. IL-12 levels were significantly different (p<0.05) between the groups that were given tomato extract (P2 and P3) and the groups that did not receive tomato extract (K-and K+). However, the mice that received 0.1 mg/kg BW tomato extract were not significantly different from those of the K- and K+ groups. The results of this study suggest that the most effective dose of tomato extract is 10 mg/kg BW.
Nutritional Value of Cassa occidentalis and its Potential Contribution to Aquaculture Feed
This study was carried out to assess the nutrient composition of Cassa occidentalis as a protein supplement source in the diets of fish to enhance their productivity. Proximate composition results showed high dry matter (95.65%), crude fiber (11.92%), nitrogen free extract (61.88%) and calorific value (1483.26 kcal/100 g), but low ether extract (3.69%) and crude protein (18.74%). The amino acid profile reveals a high concentration of leucine (6.23 g/100 g protein), histidine (2.27 g/100 g protein), proline (3.36 g/100 g protein) and glycine (3.51 g/100 g protein), Arginine (4.83 g/100 g protein) while the rest of the amino acids were low concentration in the raw seed. The concentration of anti-nutrients in the legume seeds recorded low values (0.99 and 0.14% and 0.28 mg/100 g) for Phytic acid, tannin and phytate respectively, while oxalate and cyanogenic glycoside levels were high. C. occidentalis seed is a good source of amino acid but it contained some antinutritional factors that must be deactivated for effective utilization in fish feed and also processing of the seeds will definitely improve the crude protein content.
Copyright (c) 2015 Asian Network for Scientific Information https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Potential Use of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon winterianus) Residue as Dairy Cow Feed
Cymbopogon winterianus (lemongrass) is a plant native to Indonesia that is able to produce essential oil as its secondary metabolite. Nevertheless, the residue of Cymbopogon after distillation to extract the essential oil is currently not being valorized. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the potential use of Cymbopogon residue as dairy cow feed. Results from the proximate test confirm that Cymbopogon residue nutritional content meets the requirement of Indonesian National Standard for cattle feed. In vitro test also shows good results for gas production (32.33 mL/200 mg), VFA (187 mM), NH3 production (28.65 mM), DMD (64.75%) and OMD (73.57%) content. It is also demonstrated that the use of Cymbopogon residue as feed for cows increased 23% of the milk production. Hence, this study suggests that the Cymbopogon residue has the potential to replace the conventional feed source (rice straw only) in ruminant diets.
Antioxidant Activity and Bioactivity (LC50) of Soursop Leaves Jelly Candy with Addition of Soursop Fruit Extract (Annona muricata L)
It has been reported that the leaves of the soursop contains acetogenin that have the potential to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Soursop leaves has not been used optimally, nowadays its leaves have only processed into tea or in capsules for drug treatment and also just to keep the body stamina. In this study had been tried to make Jelly Candy from the leaves, but there are weaknesses in flavor and taste. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) consist of 5 treatments and 3 replications. Data were analyzed statistically used ANOVA and followed by Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT) at 5% significance level, the treatment were addition of soursop fruit extract as follows: A (0%), B (10%), C (20%), D (30%) and E (40%). Antioxidant activity was analyzed using DPPH method and bioactivity using Brine shrime Lethality Test (LC50). The results showed that the addition of the soursop fruit extract had significant effect on the antioxidants activity and bioactivity in the product was weak (LC50>1000 μg/mL).
Nutritive Values and Metabolizable Energy of Amorphopallus companulatus Fermented by Rhyzopus oligosporus as Poultry Feed
An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Rhizopus oligosporus dosages on the nutritive values and metabolizable energy of Amorphopallus companulatus. This experiment was arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatments and five replicates. The treatments were 0, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9% dosage of R. oligosporus inoculum. The parameters observed were dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber and metabolizable energy of fermented A. companulatus. Results showed that the crude protein content of 0.6% inoculum were significantly higher (p<0.05) than 0.3 and 0.9%. Crude fiber, ether extract content and metabolizable energy were not affected by the treatments.
Glutathione, Vitamin D and Antioxidant Status in the Blood of Patients with Colorectal Cancer: A Pilot Study
A case-control study was conducted to evaluate some parameters of antioxidant and nutritional status in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and healthy controls. The present study was based on 25 patients with diagnosed CRC, ranging in age from 35 to 76 years with the mean age of 51.3±11.3 years. There were healthy volunteers (age-and sex-matched) serving as the control subjects. We measured reduced glutathione (GSH, a marker of antioxidant response) in erythrocytes along with the examination of plasma antioxidants (vitamin E, A and beta-carotene) and vitamin D. The results showed that the levels of vitamin D and GSH in the blood of the patients with CRC were significantly lower than the control. However, there was no significant difference in the level of vitamin A and beta-carotene in the blood of the patients with CRC as compared to control group. Interestingly, our results showed a significant increase in the blood level of Vitamin E in patients with CRC as compared to control. Our results indicate significant role of oxidative-induced injury in the CRC carcinogenesis. The decreased concentrations of vitamin D and GSH in CRC cases as compared to controls could be used as predictors for having CRC. However, no association between vitamin A and beta-carotene and CRC was detected. Higher plasma concentration of vitamin E was noticed in CRC cases comparing to controls.
Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire as a Malnutrition Screening Tool for Hospitalized Patients
Background and Objective: Nutritional screening upon hospital admission is important to ensure prompt and effective interventional management and to reduce the incidence of hospital complications. This study aimed to screen and evaluate the nutritional status of patients admitted to a tertiary care centre using the Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire (SNAQ) and to assess the relationship between malnutrition and length of hospital stay. Materials and Methods: One thousand patients were recruited from the medical wards of Kasr Al Ainy Hospital. All enrolled patients were screened for malnutrition using the SNAQ. Body mass index (BMI), haemoglobin and albumin levels were measured. The predictors of hospital stay were assessed. Results: Of the 1000 patients, 522 (52.2%) were male and their ages ranged from 18-97 years. The median (IQR) BMI was 25.9 (22.8-29.4). A total of 550 patients were malnourished, with SNAQ scores ≥2. The frequency of anaemia and hypoalbuminemia differed significantly in malnourished patients (SNAQ≥2) from that in non-malnourished patients (p<0.001). A long hospital stay was significantly associated with higher SNAQ scores (r = 0.318, p≤0.001) and was inversely associated with BMI and albumin, while a low BMI was the most independent predictor of a long hospital stay (95% CI for the beta coefficient=0.125-0.033). Conclusion: The SNAQ is a simple and quick tool for screening malnutrition risk among hospitalized patients.
Survival and Reproductive Response of Adult Rabbits Exposed to Graded Levels of Crude Oil Contaminated Diets
A study was conducted to establish the survival and reproductive response of adults rabbits exposed to graded levels of crude oil contaminated diet. Thirty two rabbits of mixed breed of New Zealand White and Chinchilla were used in this study. The study entailed four treatment groups (designated) A, B, C and D with eight rabbits of equal sex ratio replicated four times were randomly assigned to each group. The levels of crude oil inclusion in the diet were 0.00%, (control A) 0.01, 0.02 and 0.03% for treated groups B, C and D respectively. The study lasted for fourteen weeks. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in weight gain among the groups. The mean feed intake, average weekly body weight gain as well as final body weight were not significantly different (p>0.05) amongst the group. There was no mortality recorded at the highest inclusion rate of 0.03% in this study. Results obtained on the reproductive response revealed 68% were pregnant including the control group and 50% conception rate was recorded amongst the experimental groups. Therefore, it could be concluded that, the adult rabbits were able to survive, conceive and kindle at the highest crude oil inclusion rate of 0.03%, without any adverse effect on the experimental rabbits, hence establishing their survival level and reproductive capability of adults rabbits exposed to crude oil contamination.
Copyright (c) 2014 Asian Network for Scientific Information https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Impact of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) Programme on Breast-Feeding Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Mothers
This study investigated the impact of the baby friendly hospital initiative (BFHI) programme on the breast-feeding knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers attending Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital, Enugu. The study randomly sampled 146 breast-feeding mothers whose babies were between 0-23 months. A validated questionnaire was used to obtain useful information from the mothers. The data obtained was analyzed into frequency and percentages. The result showed that 12.3% of the mothers initiated breast-feeding within 30 min of delivery, 93.2% of them fed colostrum, 9.6% of the respondents perceived that colostrum should not be fed to infants and 31.5% exclusively breast-fed their babies for 6 months. The major factors that militated against exclusive breast-feeding were that it caused firm breast to fall (6.4%) and ties mother down (19.2%). It was obvious from the study that there was a wide gap between knowledge and practice of exclusive breast-feeding in the study area. There is urgent need to plan strategies to aggressively promote exclusive breast-feeding practice. Lactation support groups as well as opinion leaders and women group in the communities should provide complementary support to the already existing strategies.
Influence of Aspergillus niger or Saccharomyces cerevisiae-Fermented Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) Mixed with Fresh Cassava Root on Blood Parameters and Nutrient Digestibility in Growing Beef Cattle
Objective: The current study was designed to determine the effect of Aspergillus niger or Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermented napier grass (NG) mixed with fresh cassava root (CR) on the blood biochemistry, blood enzymes, hematological parameters and nutrient digestibility in growing beef cattle. Materials and Methods: Four male beef cattle (150±10 kg) were randomly assigned according to a 4×4 Latin square design, to receive four dietary treatments: Napier grass (Control), non-microbial-fermented NG mixed with CR (F-NGCR), A. niger-fermented NG mixed with CR (AF-NGCR) or S. cerevisiae-fermented NG mixed with CR (SF-NGCR). Results: The results revealed the dry matter (DM) intake was similar among the treatments (p>0.05). The intake of organic matter (OM), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were not significantly different among the treatments (p>0.05). However, the intake of crude protein (CP) was affected by AF-NGCR and SF-NGCR compared with the control (p<0.05). The digestibility of DM, OM, CP, EE and NDF were increased in the beef cattle that consumed AF-NGCR and SF-NGCR (p<0.05). The blood biochemistry, blood enzymes and hematological parameters did not differ among the treatments (p>0.05). Conclusion: Aspergillus niger and S. cerevisiae-fermented NG mixed with CR could improve the CP intake and nutrient digestibility and had no effect on the blood biochemistry, blood enzymes and hematological parameters in growing beef cattle.
Copyright (c) 2017 The Author(s) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Nutritional Content of Food Containing Various Mixtures of Eel (Monopterus albus) Flour and Tempeh Flour as Supporting Nutrients for Hemodialysis Patients
Background and Objective: Hemodialysis patients are at risk of malnutrition and thus require nutritional support from protein sources that can include eel (Monopterus albus) and tempeh. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of various mixtures of eel flour and tempeh flour on the nutritional content of food and the proportion of animal and plant sources of protein for the nutritional support of hemodialysis patients. Materials and Methods: This was a pre-experimental study with two intervention groups and one control group. The study used nuggets made with various mixtures of eel flour and tempeh flour. The dependent variable was nutrient content, while the independent variable was the proportion of animal and vegetable protein sources. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA. Results: The results of the effect of the proportion of animal and vegetable protein sources on the nutritional content of food were as follows: p = 0.001 for energy, p = 0.000 for protein, p = 0.010 for fat, p = 0.010 for carbohydrates, p = 0,000 for iron, p = 0,000 for calcium, p = 0.565 for sodium, p = 0.441 for potassium and p = 0,000 for phosphorus. Nugget C with a 1:1 proportion of eel flour to tempeh flour had the highest contents of energy, protein, carbohydrates and calcium and the lowest contents of sodium, potassium and phosphorus compared to the contents of the other two nugget variations. Conclusion: The proportion of animal and vegetable protein sources influences energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, iron, calcium and phosphorus contents. Nugget C with the 1:1 proportion of eel flour to tempeh flour had the most suitable nutrient content to meet the dietary requirements of hemodialysis patients.
Association Between Smoking Habits, Physical Activity, Added Sugar Consumption and Nutritional Status with Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Glucose Levels in Adults
The objective of this study was to analyze the association between smoking habits, physical activity, added sugar consumption and nutritional status with plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and blood glucose levels in adults. This was a cross-sectional study and a total of 102 adults (47 men and 55 women) participated in this study. Pearson correlation test was used to analyze the correlations between variables in this study. The results showed that most of the participants were smokers (50%), physically inactive people (61.2%), overweight/obese (46.6%) and had high consumption of added sugars (60.2%). More than 30% of participants had high MDA and blood glucose levels. There were significant associations between smoking habits and plasma MDA levels (p<0.05, r = 0.65); consumption of added sugars and blood glucose levels (p<0.05, r = 0.24); nutritional status (BMI) and blood glucose levels (p<0.05, r = 0.43); as well as plasma MDA and blood glucose levels (p<0.05, r = 0.51) of the participants. There was no significant association between physical activity level and blood glucose levels. This study implied that variabels which were significantly associated with participants’ blood glucose levels were nutritional status, consumption of added sugars and plasma MDA levels.
Effect of Length of Soaking and Fermentation Using Palm Juice on Nutrient Content of Tamarind Seeds
Background and Objective: Tamarind seed is an underutilized byproduct of tamarind fruit processing industry. It has rich nutrient contents but its utilization as feed is limited due to its association with a hard and non-destructive seed husk structure and the presence of anti-nutrient factors such as tannins and antitrypsin. Pre-treatment is needed to reduce or partially remove the anti-nutrients in order to increase its utilization. This study was conducted to determine the best treatment combination of soaking and fermentation using palm juice with tamarind seed which is yet unknown. Materials and Methods: Tamarind seeds were collected and sorted using a floating test. Selected seeds were then strained, dried and soaked in clean water. The study used a randomized complete design with a 3×3 factorial pattern and 3 replications. First factors was length of soaking (W0 = 0 days, W1 = 2 days and W2 = 4 days, second factor was level of palm juice (L0 = 0% of palm juice, L1 = 20% of palm juice and L2 = 40% of palm juice) and third factor was length of fermentation (F0 = 0 h, F1 = 36 h, F2 = 72 h and F3 = 108 h). Parameters measured were dry matter, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, Ash, Ca, P and tannin content. Results: The results showed that there was interaction between length of soaking, level of palm juice and length of fermentation. Soaking and fermentation using palm juice can improve the nutrients and reduce tannins of tamarind seed by 82.87%. Conclusion: The best nutritional value and lowest tannin content in tamarind seeds was achieved with 2 days of soaking and 20% palm juice at 72 h fermentation.
Nutritional Improvement of Palm Oil Fronds for Ruminant Feedstuffs Using a Local Biotechnological Approach
This study aimed to evaluate the nutrient contents of palm fronds fermented with microorganisms derived from the rumen contents, feces and urine of local cows. The study was conducted using a completely randomized, two factorial 2 x 3 design and three replications for each treatment. Factor A was the length of incubation (A1 = 7 days and A2 = 14 days) and factor B was the type of medium (B1 = rumen contents, B2 = cattle feces and B3 = cattle urine). The observed variables were the dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and crude fiber content and the digestibilities of the dry matter and organic matter in the fermented palm fronds. The experimental results revealed that fermentation reduced the dry matter, organic matter and crude fiber content (p<0.05). However, fermentation increased the crude protein content (<0.05). Neither the incubation length nor the microorganism source influence (p>0.05) the dry matter or organic matter digestibilities. There were interaction effects between the factors on the dry matter and organic matter digestibilities. In conclusion, palm oil fronds fermented with rumen contents for 7 days produced in the highest protein content. The greatest dry matter digestibility was observed in the palm oil fronds that were fermented with rumen contents and the greatest organic matter digestibility was observed in the palm oil fronds that were fermented with cattle urine for 7 days.
Self-Management of Diabetes Mellitus among Tamils in the Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka: A Qualitative Study
The poor lifestyles, rapid urbanization, lack of knowledge, unsatisfactory attitude and practices among patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) have resulted for the steady increase in the prevalence of DM in Asian countries. Thus, this study aimed to explore the experiences of physicians and nutritionists on the attitudes of the patients with DM and acceptable practices on self-management of DM. Descriptive qualitative methodology was used to explore the experiences of voluntarily recruited physicians and nutritionists those who had managed the Tamil patients with DM. In-depth interviews including audio recording were used for data collection and verbatim transcripts were analyzed on the basis of content analysis. Three main themes were emerged from the content analysis of interview transcripts. Ignorance of diet habits, changing of lifestyle and healthy eating were the concerns of the health care professional. Ignorance, dietary habits and lifestyles have impacted much among Tamil patients on Self- management of DM. Change in attitudes, modification in lifestyles along with good adherence to acceptable practices would contribute to better self-management of DM among Tamils.
Food Consumption Patterns and Trends in The Gulf Cooperation Council
Background and Objective: Qualitative and quantitative changes in diets represent the main characteristics of the dietary changes in Gulf countries. The objective of this paper is to describe and examine the patterns, growth rates and trends of food supply and consumption in Gulf Cooperation Council countries during the period of 1961-2013. Materials and Methods: The study depended mainly on secondary data derived from annual food balance sheets produced by the FAO. Trend analysis, annual growth rates, descriptive statistics and analysis of variance and means comparison were used to analyze the collected data. Results: A change in the consumption patterns, trends and annual growth rates in the GCC countries was noticed. These changes were manifested by the following facts: There was a low rate of increase in the cereal supply relative to other food items, The vegetable supply annual growth rate was highest in the UAE (4%) compared to the KSA (1.4%) and Kuwait (1%), The fruit supply showed an increasing trend in the KSA and a decreasing trend in Kuwait and the UAE, The shares of sugar and sweeteners in the food supply in KSA and Kuwait show increasing patterns, contrary to the situation in the UAE, Vegetable oils and animal fats supplies showed increasing patterns in both KSA and Kuwait, with contrasting trends in the UAE. Conclusion: There is a shift in dietary energy supply, protein and fat preference towards vegetal sources in the UAE and to animal products in the KSA and Kuwait. Moreover, the macronutrient contribution to caloric value showed disparity among GCC countries.
Effect of Different Levels of Orange (Citrus Sinensis) Waste Juice Extracts on Broiler Chickens Performance
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of orange (Citrus sinensis) waste juice extracts (OWJE) on performance in broilers chickens. A total of two hundred and forty unsexed broiler chicks (Arbor Acres CP-707) were randomly allocated to six treatments groups given varying concentrations of OWJE in the drinking water for 35 d. 0, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 ppm OWJE: water supplemented with an antibiotic only was used as a control. The growth responses achieved by broilers from all groups complied with standards. However, supplementation with 1000 ppm OWJE in drinking water increased feed intake and body weight gain, thereby increasing the feed conversion ratio of both starter (days 1-21) and finisher (days 22-35) broilers, while 750 ppm OWJE promoted feed intake and weight gain in starters. These results indicate OWJE is a useful additive for promoting broilers chicken growth. Additional research is needed to improve the suitability of OWJE as a feed additive which promotes growth in poultry.
Concentrations of Fluoride in Drinking Water and Tea Samples and Associations with Dental Fluorosis
Water and tea are the main sources of fluoride intake in humans and may cause dental fluorosis during tooth development. The current study aimed to determine the fluoride concentrations in drinking water and tea samples and their association with dental fluorosis. To evaluate the prevalence of dental fluorosis, 882 primary school children (8-13 years) were analyzed and 14% were found to be affected. Drinking water samples (34) were analyzed and the fluoride concentrations ranged from 0.61 to 2.55 ppm. Fourteen (14) different branded and unbranded tea leaf samples exhibited fluoride concentrations of 5.73-7.70 and 2.13-4.56 ppm, respectively, based on the ion-selective electrode method. It was concluded that the dental fluorosis observed among school children was directly associated with the fluoride concentrations in their drinking water and tea samples.
Growth Performance of Indigenous Village Chickens Fed Palm Pith (Corypha gebanga) as a Substitute for Maize
Palm pith, which is available at all seasons, is used in a practical manner by farmers on Timor Island as an additional feed source for chicken during critically dry seasons. This study investigated the utilization of palm pith as a substitute for maize for the feeding of village chickens. Sixty-four birds, consisting of 48 females and 16 males, were divided into four groups fed different feeding treatments, each with four replicates and their growth performance, egg production, weight and size were measured. The four treatments were the following: T1 (30% maize, 20% fish meal, 50% palm pith meal); T2 (0% maize, 20% fish meal, 60% palm pith meal); T3 (10% maize, 20% fish meal, 70% palm pith meal) and T4 (20% fish meal, 80% palm pith meal). The data were analyzed through a multivariate analysis. Significant differences in live weight were observed in weeks 6, 7 and 8: the birds receiving 80% palm pith meal in their diet (T4) had higher average live weights than those receiving 60 and 70% palm pith meal. The results revealed that the effect of the interaction between time (week) and treatment on live weight was highly significant (p<0.01). The birds fed T4 had significantly higher weight than those receiving T2. Greater differences were found when the birds spent a longer time feeding. The growth performance of the birds fed T4 suggested that the protein level in the diet was likely closer to the determined level than the predicted level. The balance of amino acids may have been closer to an optimal level in the fish meal-Corypha gebanga mix (T4) than in the diets containing all three ingredients. The average egg production per month increased over the four months, with 8.8, 15.1, 36.6 and 40.6 eggs produced in months 1 to 4, respectively. The egg weight and length were 30.5 g and 775 cm, respectively. The profits from selling the village chickens contributed to quick-cash incomes for small farming families. A major constraint identified in chicken rearing is the inability of native chickens to respond to improved management practices due to their limited genetic potential. The feeding practices were inefficient in the use of existing feed resources, resulting in an inadequate amount and a low quality of the feed available for chickens and long durations between hen clutch cycles, thereby yielding a low annual egg production per hen.