Nutrient Deficiency Research Articles

Performing Hunger in Taiwan: Images, Objects, and Reflections

In 1982, Hungarian-American artist Agnes Denes planted and harvested two acres of wheat on the Battery Park landfill, Manhattan, to draw attention to mismanagement, waste, and world hunger. More recently, from 2014 to the present, American environmental activist Rob Greenfield addressed food waste and demonstrated food freedom by dumpster diving and foraging. The ethos of these two examples align with Environmental Art, a general education course that I teach at Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU), Taiwan. Environmental Art is an umbrella term for art that interacts with or comments on the environment. Among its subgenres, Ecological Art emphasizes the preservation and remediation of life, resources, and ecosystems of Earth. This article explores the online teaching pedagogy for the Environmental Art course final assignment, The Hunger Project, and its ramifications in relation to performance. Using Ecological Art and hunger statistics as a springboard, students examine hunger in Taiwan and in the global context. They consider various dimensions of hunger, such as access and distribution of food, and the question: why do the lack and the excess of food coexist? Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I and students realized the entire “The Hunger Project” online. The pedagogical methods facilitated the “The Hunger Project Website,” where students staged texts, images, and objects to visualize their reflections on hunger. Working in groups, students addressed metaphorical “hungers”, such as the hunger for being healthy, linked social class to food consumption, and proposed education as an antidote to poverty and food deficiency. This essay considers the performative and educational significance of this learning process in relation to hunger action.

In Healthy Pathways of Dietary Changes, a Very Rapid Reduction of Red Meat Is Possible, but Specific Diet Changes Are Required for Full Reduction—A Graph-Based Analysis

BackgroundAlthough reducing meat consumption is becoming increasingly popular in Western countries, such a transition to a sustainable diet may pose some nutritional risks. ObjectivesWe aim to analyze the pathways for reaching a low-meat healthy diet and the changes in other food categories needed to rapidly decrease total red meat consumption. MethodsWe used a recently developed method based on graph theory to represent all possible pathways of stepwise changes that avoid nutritional deficiencies toward a target healthy diet. Initial and target diets were defined as the daily consumption of 33 food groups. For each sex, 3 initial diets were taken from the French representative survey third individual and national study on food consumption survey as the mean observed diet and low (first quintile) and high (fifth quintile) meat consumption. Target diets were identified using multicriteria optimization to minimize the long-term health risk (HR) of chronic diseases while ensuring nutritional adequacy. The Dijkstra algorithm was used to identify the optimal pathways between the initial and target diets, with the aim of reducing meat consumption as quickly as possible and thus minimizing long-term HRs. ResultsUnprocessed red meat was easily minimized in the first steps of the pathways regardless of sex and initial level of meat consumption. However, processed meat could only be decreased later and required prior changes such as increases in fruit, vegetables, and oily fish. During total red meat minimization in females, securing adequate intakes of bioavailable iron had the most substantial impact on the other dietary changes needed. ConclusionsImmediate reduction of red meat consumption is possible on the pathway to a healthy diet that avoids any nutrient deficiency. However, early increases in fruit, vegetables, and fish are required before minimizing total red meat early in the diet.

Placental Disorders as a Risk Factor for the Development of Postpartum Haemorrhage

The placenta is a functional link between mother and fetus during pregnancy and the most important factor determining newborn and infant health. Postpartum hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide and is affected by numerous factors including placental size. Here we analysed the role of placental disorders as a risk factor for the development of postpartum hemorrhage. We screened the available literature via PubMed, PubMed Central, Scopus, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and eLibrary from 2001 to October 2023. Placental insufficiency may cause either hyperplasia (i.e., placental expansion to meet the nutritional needs of the growing fetus) or hypoplasia, which cause deficiency in nutrients and oxygen and slows down fetal growth and development. Both of these conditions significantly affect the probability and volume of postpartum haemorrhage.

Effects of foliar application of methyl jasmonate and/or urea, conventional or via nanoparticles, on grape volatile composition.

Viticulture has adapted foliar applications of biostimulants as a tool to improve crop quality. Recently, nanotechnology has been incorporated as a strategy to reduce the loss of biostimulants and treat nutrient deficiencies. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of foliar applications of amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles (ACP) doped with methyl jasmonate (ACP-MeJA) and urea (ACP-Ur), individually or together (ACP-MeJA+Ur), on the content of volatile compounds in 'Tempranillo' grapes, compared to the conventional application of MeJA and Ur, individually or in combination (MeJA+Ur). The results showed that nanoparticle treatments reduced the total C6 compounds and some carbonyl compounds in the grape musts. This is of novel interest because their presence at high levels is undesirable to quality. In addition, some aroma-positive compounds such as nerol, neral, geranyl acetone, β-cyclocitral, β-ionone, 2-phenylethanal and 2-phenylethanol increased, despite applying MeJA and Ur at a lower dose. Consequently, although few differences in grape volatile composition were detected, nanotechnology could be an option for improving the aromatic quality of grapes, at the same time as reducing the required doses of biostimulants and generating more sustainable agricultural practices. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Genetic engineering of Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae for the enhancement of astaxanthin production: A review

Haematococcus pluvialis (H. pluvialis) is a significant natural source of astaxanthin, garnering interest in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. However, astaxanthin production from H. pluvialis is constrained by factors such as a lengthy cultivation period and thick cell walls. Recent research has explored different strategies, such as optimising cultivation conditions, to enhance astaxanthin biosynthesis. This review paper aims to summarise the recent advancement of metabolic and genetic engineering in astaxanthin biosynthesis from H. pluvialis. The review would provide a comprehensive analysis of the molecular components and mechanism involved in the biosynthesis pathway of astaxanthin in H. pluvialis, revealing the specific genes responsible for governing its biosynthesis. Numerous metabolic methodologies are investigated, including manipulating light intensity, salinity, nutrient deficiency, and temperature to enhance microalgae biomass and astaxanthin accumulation. Genetic engineering strategies have recently been studied to manipulate specific genes (e.g. bkt, CrtR-b, pds) to increase astaxanthin production. However, the limitation of genetic engineering is still unclear due to its mechanism of astaxanthin esterification and the transport of secondary β-carotenoids from the chloroplast to the cytosol. This lack of understanding has posed a challenge to maximise astaxanthin production through genetic engineering. This review also provides recent insights and future research directions for genetic engineering by providing a holistic approach to the complex interplay of genetics, metabolism, and biotechnological strategies to maximise astaxanthin production.

Multiple Perspectives of Study on the Potential of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens JB20221020 for Alleviating Nutrient Stress in Lettuce.

Soil nutrient deficiency has become a key factor limiting crop growth. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are vital in resisting abiotic stress. In this study, we investigated the effects of inoculation with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens JB20221020 on the physiology, biochemistry, rhizosphere microorganisms, and metabolism of lettuce under nutrient stress. Pot experiments showed that inoculation with B. amyloliquefaciens JB20221020 significantly promoted lettuce growth under nutrient deficiency. At the same time, the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase and the content of proline increased, and the content of Malondialdehyde decreased in the lettuce inoculated with B. amyloliquefaciens JB20221020. Inoculation with B. amyloliquefaciens JB20221020 altered the microbial community of the rhizosphere and increased the relative abundances of Myxococcales, Deltaproteobacteria, Proteobacteria, Devosia, and Verrucomicrobia. Inoculation also altered the rhizosphere metabolism under nutrient deficiency. The folate metabolism pathway was significantly enriched in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis. This study explored the interaction between plants and microorganisms under nutrient deficiency, further explained the critical role of rhizosphere microorganisms in the process of plant nutrient stress, and provided a theoretical basis for the use of microorganisms to improve plant resistance.

Folate and Vitamin B12 Levels in Chilean Women with PCOS and Their Association with Metabolic Outcomes.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder that affects women of reproductive age. Many women with PCOS have been found to have an unbalanced diet and deficiencies in essential nutrients. This study aimed to assess the levels of folate and vitamin B12 (B12) and their relationship with metabolic factors in women with PCOS. Anthropometric, clinical, and genetic analyses were conducted to evaluate markers related to one-carbon metabolism in women with PCOS and in a control group. The PCOS group had a higher BMI and HOMA-IR (1.7 vs. 3.1; p < 0.0001). HDL cholesterol levels were 23% lower and triglyceride levels were 74% higher in women with PCOS. Although there were no significant differences in folate and B12 levels between the PCOS and control groups, over 60% of women with PCOS had low B12 levels (<300 pg/mL) and high homocysteine levels. In addition, the MTHFR A1298C and C677T polymorphisms were not associated with PCOS. Moreover, erythrocyte folate levels were positively correlated with fasting glucose, triglycerides, and free androgen index, and negatively correlated with SHBG and LH levels. These results suggest that B vitamins may be associated with the metabolic phenotype in PCOS. This study emphasizes the potential link between folate, vitamin B12, and metabolic and hormonal outcomes in women with PCOS.

Dual-stage color calibration of UAV imagery using multivariate regression and deep learning

Accurate color representation in UAV-based imagery is critical in high-throughput plant phenotyping and precision agriculture for monitoring crop health and identifying nutrient deficiencies or water stress. However, achieving color accuracy is challenging due to varying lighting conditions and flight altitudes in UAV operations. To overcome these challenges, we propose an automated dual-phase approach for consistent color calibration in UAV imagery, integrating traditional color calibration methods with cutting-edge deep learning algorithms. In the first phase, we derived a color calibration matrix (M) for four color boards placed within the imaging area. This involved mapping the observed color values in the UAV images to their true color values, as measured by a colorimeter, using multivariate linear regression (MLR). The individual matrices from each board were then merged into a single, weighted average matrix, which was then applied to the UAV images for color correction, resulting in standardized color outputs. In the second phase, we developed a deep learning model, trained on the MLR-corrected images as a ground truth. This model assigns varying weights for different pixels across the image scene, translating the image from a distorted to a color-corrected image using image-to-image regression without manual intervention. We validated this approach using 184 UAV images of various sizes, ranging from 3969 × 2589 to 15257 × 15098 pixels, captured under a wide array of lighting conditions and altitudes. The results show that our deep learning model significantly outperforms existing methods, with a marginal color error of 1.52 %. This two-phase color correction method greatly improves operational efficiency by removing the necessity for physical color boards in each image and allowing for automated processing after training.

Inhibition of the eukaryotic initiation factor-2α kinase PERK decreases risk of autoimmune diabetes in mice.

Preventing the onset of autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D) is feasible through pharmacological interventions that target molecular stress-responsive mechanisms. Cellular stresses, such as nutrient deficiency, viral infection, or unfolded proteins, trigger the integrated stress response (ISR), which curtails protein synthesis by phosphorylating eukaryotic translation initiation factor-2α (eIF2α). In T1D, maladaptive unfolded protein response (UPR) in insulin-producing β cells renders these cells susceptible to autoimmunity. We found that inhibition of the eIF2α kinase PKR-like ER kinase (PERK), a common component of the UPR and ISR, reversed the mRNA translation block in stressed human islets and delayed the onset of diabetes, reduced islet inflammation, and preserved β cell mass in T1D-susceptible mice. Single-cell RNA-Seq of islets from PERK-inhibited mice showed reductions in the UPR and PERK signaling pathways and alterations in antigen-processing and presentation pathways in β cells. Spatial proteomics of islets from these mice showed an increase in the immune checkpoint protein programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in β cells. Golgi membrane protein 1, whose levels increased following PERK inhibition in human islets and EndoC-βH1 human β cells, interacted with and stabilized PD-L1. Collectively, our studies show that PERK activity enhances β cell immunogenicity and that inhibition of PERK may offer a strategy for preventing or delaying the development of T1D.

Extruded canine diets containing primarily peas in contrast to those containing lamb and chicken meal are at higher risk of mold and mycotoxin contamination when treated similarly: An observational study

AbstractThree extruded dog diets were created for a nutritional study with different primary protein sources (BAS: lamb meal (LM) and deboned lamb (DL); CHK: chicken meal, LM, and DL; PEA: dried ground pea, LM, and DL). All diets were processed using the same single‐screw extruder, shipped from the processing facility on the same day, and transported under the same conditions in January 2021. After 8 months of storage in a temperature and humidity‐controlled room in September 2021, only the PEA diet was molded upon inspection. Mold and mycotoxin analysis of all diets was conducted in both September 2021 and at expiry in January 2022, which confirmed mold and mycotoxin contamination to some degree in all diets and most pronounced in the PEA diet across both timepoints. Nutrient analysis of all diets was conducted at production and 2 months post‐expiry in March 2022. As expected, fatty acid and vitamin contents of all diets decreased between sampling timepoints, and amino acid contents generally remained stable. Methionine decreased by 14% in CHK, cystine decreased by 15% and 20% in CHK and PEA, respectively, tyrosine decreased by 30%, 25%, and 27% across BAS, CHK, and PEA, respectively, and taurine decreased by 50%, 42%, and 55% across BAS, CHK, and PEA, respectively. Inaccurate measurement of the PEA diet moisture content post‐production likely led to mold development which may also negatively impact the availability of nutrients and could put dogs at risk for mycotoxicosis and nutrient deficiencies if not closely monitored, but controlled studies are required.

Genetic mapping of regions associated with root system architecture in rice using MutMap QTL-seq

The root system architecture is an important complex trait in rice. With changing climatic conditions and soil nutrient deficiencies, there is an immediate need to breed nutrient-use-efficient rice varieties with robust root system architectural (RSA) traits. To map the genomic regions associated with crucial component traits of RSA viz. root length and root volume, a biparental F2 mapping population was developed using TI-128, an Ethyl Methane Sulphonate (EMS) mutant of a mega variety BPT-5204 having high root length (RL) and root volume (RV) with wild type BPT-5204. Extreme bulks having high RL and RV and low RL and RV were the whole genome re-sequenced along with parents. Genetic mapping using the MutMap QTL-Seq approach elucidated two genomic intervals on Chr.12 (3.14–3.74 Mb, 18.11–20.85 Mb), and on Chr.2 (23.18–23.68 Mb) as potential regions associated with both RL and RV. The Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) assays for SNPs with delta SNP index near 1 were associated with higher RL and RV in the panel of sixty-two genotypes varying in root length and volume. The KASP_SNPs viz. Chr12_S4 (C→T; Chr12:3243938), located in the 3’ UTR region of LOC_Os12g06670 encoding a protein kinase domain-containing protein and Chr2_S6 (C→T; Chr2:23181622) present upstream in the regulator of chromosomal condensation protein LOC_Os2g38350. Validation of these genes using qRT-PCR and in-silico studies using various online tools and databases revealed higher expression in TI-128 as compared to BPT- 5204 at the seedling and panicle initiation stages implying the functional role in enhancing RL and RV.

Knowledge of Health Students Regarding Nutritional Deficiencies in Patients With Celiac Disease in Jazan Region: A Cross-Sectional Study.

In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of celiac disease (CeD) was 2.7% greater than the global pooled prevalence of 1.4%. Patients who strictly adhere to a lifetime gluten-free diet (GFD) may develop nutritional deficiencies potentially contributing to obesity, increased cardiovascular risk, and lower bone density. Therefore, this study aims to assess the knowledge of health students in the Jazan region regarding nutritional deficiencies in patients with CeD who are on a GFD and to determine the associated socio-demographic factors. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among health college students of Jazan University, including students from the College of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Dentistry, Public Health and Health Informatics, and Allied Health Sciences, aged 18 and above, excluding internship students, students who did not complete the survey, and those who refused to participate. The minimum calculated sample size was 368. The questionnaire was adopted from the literature and translated into Arabic.It contained a socio-demographic section and a knowledge section that included 12 questions focusing on the content of macro- and micronutrients in a GFD and the impact of the diet on the health of patients with CeD. The study included 369 participants, with 235 (64%) aged 17-22, 280 (76%) being females, and 341 (92%) being single. The College of Medicine and the College of Applied Medical Sciences had the highest representation, and the College of Dentistry was the lowest. Most participants were in the fourth year (30%) and sixth year (24%). The grade point average (GPA)had a median of 4.3. Approximately 59.1% were aware of nutritional deficiencies among CeD patients. None of the sociodemographic factors were associated with health students' knowledge regarding CeD. Participants from the College of Pharmacy had a lower knowledge of CeD nutrient deficiencies than those from the College of Medicine. (OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.90). Most students stated that CeD patients should be advised to take multivitamin drugs and vitamin D supplements. Most acknowledged vitamin D, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies in CeD patients. Similarly, most were aware of iron and calcium deficiencies, with a small percentage aware of zinc and copper. Approximately 59.1% had an acceptable level of knowledge, which is considered a low knowledge level among students who will be future physicians and healthcare workers to whom CeD will represent the first-line disease exposed to. Rising knowledge and awareness among those students will guarantee correct diagnosis, treatment, and better outcomes among CeD patients, thus decreasing the disease burden and increasing the quality of those patients.

Erastin promotes random-pattern skin flaps survival by inducing mTORC1-TFEB mediated autophagy

Random-pattern skin flaps are important method for skin reconstruction after defect; however, the distal end of flaps is not easily viable due to inadequate nutrient supply. Erastin is a well-established ferroptosis inducer, but our study found that low-dose of erastin (2 μM) may reduce nutrient deficiency induced cell death in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). RNA-seq analysis suggested that its role was related to autophagy regulation. Follow-up studies have shown that the use of autophagy inhibitors or the knockdown of TFEB in HUVECs can both reduce the anti-apoptotic effect of erastin in HUVECs. Mechanism study demonstrated that erastin can suppress mTORC1 and promote TFEB activity in HUVECs, suggesting that the effect of erastin on the survival of HUVECs under nutrient deprivation conditions is regulated by mTORC1/TFEB. Subsequently, we evaluated the effect of erastin on the survival of random-pattern skin flaps in mice in vivo. On the postoperative day 7, we observed a significant increase in flap survival area, blood perfusion, and microvascular density after erastin treatment; also, erastin treatment showed enhanced autophagy within the ischemic region. In summary, our study demonstrates that low-dose of erastin may suppress cell death in endothelial cells under nutrient deficiency condition, and its effects may relate to the mTORC1-TFEB medicated autophagy regulation, erastin treatment may be a potential therapy for random-pattern skin flaps.

A coffee biochar-mineral NP interaction: Boon for soil health

Low soil fertility, attributed to a deficiency in multiple nutrients, is causing a decline in the productivity of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) in the Gawata district of southwestern Ethiopia. To address this issue, a field experiment was conducted during the Belg season (February to May) and Meher season (June to October) of the year 2024. The objective was to assess the response of potatoes to the combined application of nitrogen, phosphorus, and coffee biochar (BC) in relation to specific soil physico chemical properties under rainfed conditions. The treatments comprised various combinations of biochar (2.5, 5, 7.5 t ha-1) and inorganic NP (25, 50, and 75%) of the recommended dose (165 kg N ha-1 + 60 kg P ha-1 = 100% recommended dose of fertilizer, RDF), along with 20 t ha-1 of biochar and 100% inorganic NP, with a no-fertilizer treatment serving as the control. In total, there were 12 treatments and a randomized complete block design with three replications was employed for the experiment. The results indicated that the combined application of 75% inorganic NP and 7.5 t ha-1 of biochar significantly increased pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, cation exchange capacity, and exchangeable calcium and magnesium. Additionally, it reduced bulk density, exchangeable acidity, exchangeable aluminum, and exchangeable potassium compared to the values obtained from the initial soil test. Consequently, it was concluded that the integrated use of 7.5 t ha-1 of biochar and 75% of inorganic NP during the Belg season, or 25% of it during the Meher season, represents an optimal nutrient management strategy for potato production in the study area.

Microbial alchemists: unveiling the hidden potentials of halophilic organisms for soil restoration.

Salinity, resulting from various contaminants, is a major concern to global crop cultivation. Soil salinity results in increased osmotic stress, oxidative stress, specific ion toxicity, nutrient deficiency in plants, groundwater contamination, and negative impacts on biogeochemical cycles. Leaching, the prevailing remediation method, is expensive, energy-intensive, demands more fresh water, and also causes nutrient loss which leads to infertile cropland and eutrophication of water bodies. Moreover, in soils co-contaminated with persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals, and textile dyes, leaching techniques may not be effective. It promotes the adoption of microbial remediation as an effective and eco-friendly method. Common microbes such as Pseudomonas, Trichoderma, and Bacillus often struggle to survive in high-saline conditions due to osmotic stress, ion imbalance, and protein denaturation. Halophiles, capable of withstanding high-saline conditions, exhibit a remarkable ability to utilize a broad spectrum of organic pollutants as carbon sources and restore the polluted environment. Furthermore, halophiles can enhance plant growth under stress conditions and produce vital bio-enzymes. Halophilic microorganisms can contribute to increasing soil microbial diversity, pollutant degradation, stabilizing soil structure, participating in nutrient dynamics, bio-geochemical cycles, enhancing soil fertility, and crop growth. This review provides an in-depth analysis of pollutant degradation, salt-tolerating mechanisms, and plant-soil-microbe interaction and offers a holistic perspective on their potential for soil restoration.

Investigation of Deficiency and Excess Nutrients Under in Vitro Culture Conditions in Petunia hybrida

Investigation of Deficiency and Excess Nutrients Under in Vitro Culture Conditions in Petunia hybrida

Placental Epigenome Impacts Fetal Development: Effects of Maternal Nutrients and Gut Microbiota.

Evidence is emerging on the role of maternal diet, gut microbiota, and other lifestyle factors in establishing lifelong health and disease, which are determined by transgenerationally inherited epigenetic modifications. Understanding epigenetic mechanisms may help identify novel biomarkers for gestation-related exposure, burden, or disease risk. Such biomarkers are essential for developing tools for the early detection of risk factors and exposure levels. It is necessary to establish an exposure threshold due to nutrient deficiencies or other environmental factors that can result in clinically relevant epigenetic alterations that modulate disease risks in the fetus. This narrative review summarizes the latest updates on the roles of maternal nutrients (n-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, vitamins) and gut microbiota on the placental epigenome and its impacts on fetal brain development. This review unravels the potential roles of the functional epigenome for targeted intervention to ensure optimal fetal brain development and its performance in later life.

Concurrent nutrient deficiencies are associated with dementia incidence.

While observational research suggests a protective role for nutrition in brain aging, intervention studies remain inconclusive. This failing translation from observational to interventional research may result from overlooking nutrient interactions. We developed a nutrient status index capturing the number of suboptimal statuses of omega-3 fatty acids, homocysteine, and vitamin D (range 0 to 3). We associated this index with dementia incidence in a subsample (age ≥ 50 years) of the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort. Among 968 participants, 79 developed dementia over 15.5 years (median follow-up). Each point increase in nutrient status index was associated with a 50% higher risk of dementia (hazard ratio [HR]=1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.16, 1.96). Participants with three high-risk statuses had a four-fold increased risk of dementia compared to participants without high-risk status (HR=4.68; 95% CI=1.69, 12.94). Concurrent nutrient deficiencies are associated with the risk of dementia. The potential of optimizing nutritional status to lower dementia risk warrants further study. Nutrition and dementia research calls for multiple-nutrient approaches. We studied combined suboptimal statuses of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, homocysteine, and vitamin D. Suboptimal status of the three nutrients was associated with dementia risk. The risk estimate was larger than for other factors (ie, diabetes, apolipoprotein Eε4 carrier). Future studies should assess the effect of improving nutrient status on dementia risk.

Sarcopenia and Dinapenia in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis (Cross-Sectional Observational Study)

Background. Sarcopenia is a generalised, progressive decline in skeletal muscle mass, strength and performance leading to reduced quality of life, increased risk of falls, hospitalisation and mortality. Primary sarcopenia results from age-related changes in muscle tissue. In certain cases, sarcopenia develops secondary as a consequence of diseases including ulcerative colitis (UC), which is associated with a systemic inflammatory process, malabsorption syndrome, restriction of patients’ physical activity and nutrient deficiencies. The term “dynapenia” or “probable sarcopenia” has been proposed to describe the decrease in muscle strength. Studies have demonstrated that muscle strength is a more relevant marker for predicting adverse outcomes because its measurement is more practical, whereas muscle mass is technically difficult to measure. Aims — to increase the effectiveness of the diagnosis of dinapenia, to assess the prevalence and risk factors of its formation in patients with UC. Methods. A single-centre, observational cross-sectional study included 80 UC patients. To identify factors associated with the development of dinapenia, patients with dinapenia were compared with patients without dinapenia. The investigated parameters in patients: sex, age, body mass index, peculiarities of the course of the disease, ongoing treatment, concomitant pathology, peculiarities of nutrition, nutritional deficiency, malabsorption syndrome, bad habits, psychological stress and sleep duration, physical activity, laboratory indicators of inflammation, myokine-adipokine profile. Statistical parameters were calculated using Statistica 10.0.1011.0 programme. Results. Dinapenia is present in 32.5% of UC patients. Risk factors for the formation of dinapenia in UC patients include female sex (p = 0.0003); nutritional insufficiency (p = 0.021); low physical activity (p = 0.010); artificial feeding in infancy (p = 0.024); inflammation, namely C-reactive protein, autoantibodies of class G against double-stranded DNA (p = 0.006; p = 0.002 respectively). Patients with UC with dinapenia significantly more often gave a positive answer to the questionnaire question “Does daily activity cause you a lot of stress?” (p = 0.048). In the group of UC patients with dinapenia, the level of cortisol in evening saliva was significantly higher than in the comparison group (p = 0.005). Conclusions. Sarcopenia and UC are multifactorial conditions with common developmental mechanisms that can burden each other. Dynamometry is not technically difficult and is justified from an economic point of view. The timely detection of dinapenia and its correction will additionally affect the mechanisms of UC pathogenesis in order to improve the quality of life and prognosis of patients.

Fish contributions toward nutritional security in Kenya

Human nutrient deficiencies remain prevalent globally and are particularly common in low- and middle-income countries, such as Kenya. Fish holds potential to help address these deficiencies but remains barely incorporated in nutrition policies and strategies, partly due to a lack of supporting evidence. We address this gap by analyzing sixteen years of fisheries production and trade data from marine, freshwater, and aquaculture systems to evaluate fish nutrient supply, assess changes in supply, and determine the contributions the current supply could make to meet the nutritional needs of children under five years in Kenya. Despite an 11% increase, through time, in the total supply of fish, there was a 24% decline in per capita fish consumption due to fishery changes and increased fish demand. Furthermore, a 21% decline in supply of fish from inland freshwater systems resulted in a 25–40% decline in nutrient supply. Based on the current supply of fish, Kenya’s per capita consumption of 2.5 kg/yr is below WHO recommendations of 10.4 kg/yr. However, this supply has the potential to support nearly 13 million Kenyans at this WHO recommendation. If supply was targeted towards vulnerable groups, such as children under five years, it could supply all children in Kenya with one-third of their calcium, selenium, and protein and over 70% of children in Kenya with one-third of their iron, zinc, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids requirements. Therefore, fish can play an important role in supporting nutritional security in Kenya if strategic interventions involving all relevant sectors are considered, to reduce identified nutrient deficiencies.