Abstract
The consumption of teff (Eragrostis tef), a gluten-free cereal grain, has increased due to its dense nutrient composition including complex carbohydrates, unsaturated fatty acids, trace minerals (especially Fe), and phytochemicals. This study utilized the clinically-validated Gallus gallus intra amniotic feeding model to assess the effects of intra-amniotic administration of teff extracts versus controls using seven groups: (1) non-injected; (2) 18Ω H2O injected; (3) 5% inulin; (4) teff extract 1%; (5) teff extract 2.5%; (6) teff extract 5%; and (7) teff extract 7.5%. The treatment groups were compared to each other and to controls. Our data demonstrated a significant improvement in hepatic iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) concentration and LA:DGLA ratio without concomitant serum concentration changes, up-regulation of various Fe and Zn brush border membrane proteins, and beneficial morphological changes to duodenal villi and goblet cells. No significant taxonomic alterations were observed using 16S rRNA sequencing of the cecal microbiota. Several important bacterial metabolic pathways were differentially enriched in the teff group, likely due to teff’s high relative fiber concentration, demonstrating an important bacterial-host interaction that contributed to improvements in the physiological status of Fe and Zn. Therefore, teff appeared to represent a promising staple food crop and should be further evaluated.
Highlights
Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies are prevalent public health crises worldwide but especially so in Africa, Latin America, and other parts of the developing world [1,2]
The soluble fiber and total fiber content were higher in the teff extract compared to the teff seed, the insoluble fiber content was higher in the teff seed compared to the teff extract (p < 0.05, Table 3)
The total polyphenolic content of many teff verities is lower than other food crops including sorghum and cowpea, while specific polyphenols have been shown to aid in mineral bioavailability, including ferulic, caffeic, and protocatechuic acids, which have been found in relatively higher quantities [4,7,8]
Summary
Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies are prevalent public health crises worldwide but especially so in Africa, Latin America, and other parts of the developing world [1,2] The etiology of these deficiencies includes a lack of substantial meat consumption in combination with a reliance on relatively poor sources of dietary Fe and Zn including grains and cereals. As it pertains to the latter, intrinsic dietary factors that limit Fe and Zn bioavailability such as phytic acid and polyphenolic compounds are often present in increased quantities in staple food crops [3,4,5]. A recent study demonstrated that the prevalence of Fe and Zn deficiencies was much lower in Ethiopia relative to other African nations such as Kenya, Nigeria, and
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