Dietary Minerals Research Articles

BREWERS' SPENT GRAIN – SIMPLY WASTE OR POTENTIAL INGREDIENT OF FUNCTIONAL FOOD?

Background. The food industry generates large amounts of food waste during production, which is often underutilized. Various sorts of food waste with different chemical composition and physicochemical properties are produced depending on the type of industry. Due to increasing public concern about waste production, environmental protection, circular economy and knowledge about the chemical composition of food waste, it is becoming a potential raw material in food production as a high nutritional by-product. Results and conclusions. The main food waste generated during beer production is brewers' spent grain (BSG), accounting for approx. 85 % of all by-products. Owing to low cost and significant protein content, it is currently used in animal feeding. However, high levels of dietary fiber, minerals and antioxi dants create an opportunity to apply BSG not only as a bioactive compound extraction material but also as a raw material in human food processing. Therefore, this literature review concerned the possibility of applying BSG in the production of various value-added food products and its impact on chemical, physi cochemical and sensory properties. The main issue related to the application of BSG in food products is decreasing product sensory scores due to changes in color, aroma and texture. However, increasing a nutritional value and health-beneficial effects could enhance attractiveness, reduce sensory barriers and increase interest in BSG-derived food products.

Soybean bran as the fat replacer in gluten-free cookie formulation: Physicochemical properties and sensory profiles

Soybean bran (SB) partially replaced fat (30%?50%) in a gluten-free cookie formulation. Dough properties, physical (cookie dimension and weight loss), textural (hardness and fracturability), colour and sensory parameters, as well as nutritional profiles were evaluated to characterize full-fat (FFC) and fat-reduced cookies (FRC). Based on the obtained results, it was concluded that the fat reduction in cookie formulation at 30% maintained the sensory properties of the FFC. Furthermore, it was revealed that the fat replacement using SB at 30% resulted in the fat-reduced value-added gluten-free cookies in terms of dietary fibre and minerals. A daily portion of the 30% FRC meets 11.87% and 18.04% of dietary reference intakes (DRIs) for dietary fibres, 26.50% of DRIs for calcium, 35.71% and 46.88% of DRIs for magnesium and 65.43% and 83.61% of DRIs for manganese, for male and female adults, respectively.

“REVIEW ARTICLE-ROLE OF MILLETS IN ANORECTAL DISEASES.”

Anoroectal conditions are among the common diseases causing significant patient discomfort and affecting their quality of life. Their prevalence is higher than that seen in clinical practice as people seem to avoid seeking medical attention. Common anorectal symptoms include anal pain with bleeding per rectum, difficulty in passing stools, mass per anum and pruritis. Common predisposing factors include mixed/nonvegetarian diet, low fiber diet, constipation, poor anal hygiene, pregnancy and lack of physical activity/exercise. This is reviewing article focusing on review literature of millets from Various Ayurveda texts, published review articles, research papers, the internet and compiling millets which are useful in anorectal diseases. Millets or shridhanya are oldest as well as primitive indigenous food grains to be used as staple food. In Ayurveda millets are mentioned by the name as shridhanya, Kudhanya, shudradhanya and TrinDhanya, They Increase Vata, balance Kapha and Pitta, Ruksha, and Grahi and are light to digest. According to Bhavprakash Kshudradhanya is Ushna has Kashaya and Madhura Ras, Laghu, Lekhan, Vipaka is Katu, Ruksha, Vat karaka and Grahi and also decrease pitta and Kapha. Millets are significantly rich in starch, soluble and insoluble dietary fibers, vitamins, minerals and antionxidants. These are a good source of essential amino acids, micronutrients, phytochemicals, antioxdants, and minerals. The presence of all required nutrients in millets makes them potential dietary supplements. Foods high in dietary fiber enhance the function of the large bowel and slow down digestion and absorption, lowering the risk of ano rectal diseases

Evaluation of the Nutritional Value and Acute Toxicity of the Seeds of the Fruit of <i>Annona muricata</i> L. (Sursop) Consumed in Kinshasa

In this paper, the author aimed to determine the nutritional value of soursop (Annona muricata L. fruit) consumed in Kinshasa as well as the study of the acute toxicity of its seeds. The fruit of Annona muricata L. was sampled according to the ISO 7002 standard for agricultural and food products. The selected fruits were ripe, without physical damage. The usual analytical methods allowed the determination of the nutritional value of the fruit pulp of Annona muricata L. The water content was measured by the method of loss of mass on drying. The total amount of ash was determined by incineration in the oven at 550°C. The mineral elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP0). The determination of acute toxicity was carried out on 25 female mice of the NMRI SUISSE species according to OECD 425 guidelines. For 100 grams of fresh material from the fruit pulp, we noted a very high water content of 84% ± 6%. We also note a particularly high amount of carbohydrates with a rate of 12.2% ± 2%. Protein and lipid content were relatively low at 1% ± 0.01% and 0.7% ± 0.3% respectively. The dietary fiber content was 0.8% ± 0.2%. An energy value of 49.3 Kcal per 100 grams of pulp was determined. The LD 50 obtained was 3320 mg/kg, indicating slight toxicity of soursop seeds. The results of this study show that the white pulp of the fruit of Annona muricata L. consumed in Kinshasa is rich in carbohydrates when we compare it to others biomolecules. It also contains dietary fiber and mineral salts making soursop an excellent constituent of a weight loss diet with a low energy intake.

The importance and use of Amaranthus for crop diversification in the SADC region

Crop diversification is crucial for sustaining food security under current climatic conditions which limits crop productivity. It also provides an opportunity for the introduction of new food products and medicinal plants. Effective exploration of Amaranthus in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region can provide economic and agricultural potential, high nutritional value and medicinal properties that can sustain communities. This review is focused on economic and agricultural potential, nutritional value, chemical composition, and medicinal properties of Amaranthus. Amaranthus is an underutilized, inexpensive vegetable with significant dietary minerals, vitamins, proteins, and bioactive compounds with potential health benefits. An agricultural-based approach of crop diversification has been suggested as a sustainable measure that can address food security, fight poverty and malnutrition under drought and heat stress. Nutritional, chemical composition, and medicinal properties of A. caudatus, A. hypochondriacus, A. cruentus, A. spinosus, A. dubius, A. blitum, A. virdis and A. hybridus, was reviewed. In addition, co-administration of herbal medicine by cancer patients and risk of herb-drug pharmacokinetic interactions was also highlighted. The future tolerance level to environmental stressors; investigation of the effect of processing and cooking methods on the nutrient content, bioactive compounds profile and nutraceutical properties of local species and varieties are also recommended in this review.

Metal-amino acid complexes (Zn, Se, Cu, Fe and Mn) as a replacement of inorganic trace minerals in commercial diets for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared under field conditions: Effects on growth, feed efficiency, gut microbiota, intestinal histology, and economic return

An 80-day trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of replacing dietary inorganic trace minerals (ITM), with metal-amino acid complexes (MAAC) on the growth rates, feed utilization, economic return, body composition and mineralization, gut microbiota, and intestinal histology of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in in-pond hapas, under commercial conditions. The fish (93.7 g) were stocked in 2-m3 hapas, in quadruplicates, at a density of 30 fish m−3 (60 fish hapa−1). Five isonitrogenous (30% CP), isoenergetic (17 MJ kg−1) extruded (floating) commercial tilapia diets were produced, containing 0, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% MAAC as a replacement of the commercial ITM premix. In the beginning, the diets were fed to the fish at a daily rate of 3% of their body weight (BW), but the feeding rate was reduced to 2.7% BW at the beginning of the second month. The best growth performance and feed efficiency were achieved at 50% MAAC level, with no further improvement registered above this level. Except for lipid content, tissue proximate composition was significantly affected by MAAC supplementation. Economic analysis indicated that MAAC-based diets were more profitable than the control, ITM-supplemented diet, with 50% replacement showing the highest return (21% increase) over the control diet. Tissue Fe and Mn levels did not differ, while tissue Cu was higher in fish fed ITM than in those fed MAAC diets. Tissue Zn and Se increased with increasing MAAC up to 50% and 75% replacement and decreased with further MAAC supplementation. Bone Cu and Mn were not affected by dietary mineral premix; whereas Fe, Zn and Se were significantly altered. Bone Fe concentration significantly decreased at 75% and 100% MAAC levels, whereas bone Zn increased with increasing MAAC to 50%. Bone Se was lower in fish fed ITM than in those fed MAAC at 25% replacement, however, Se was not significantly affected by further increases in MAAC concentrations. Digestive enzyme activity was improved with increasing supplemental MAAC up to 50% substitution level. Fish fed MAAC showed significantly higher abundances of intestinal beneficial bacteria (Bacillus and Lactobacillus.) and lower abundances of putative pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus and Streptococcus) than the control group. The length of the intestinal folds and the number of goblet cell counts also significantly increased in fish fed MAAC up to 50% inclusion. Quadratic regression analyses revealed that about 50–55% MAAC is required for optimum performance, body mineralization, intestinal absorptive capacity, and beneficial intestinal microbiota.

Isolation, characterization, and molecular docking analyses of novel calcium-chelating peptide from soy yogurt and the study of its calcium chelation mechanism.

Calcium is an essential dietary mineral nutrient for humans. Digestive instability limits the bioavailability of calcium ions. Peptide-calcium chelate has been proven to excite higher calcium absorption than amino acid-calcium chelate, organic and inorganic calcium. Soy yogurt, which is produced via liquid-state fermentation using lactic acid bacteria, has a high amount of bioavailable calcium. In this study, a novel peptide with high calcium binding affinity was purified and identified from soy yogurt. The binding mechanism of peptide and calcium was then analyzed by bioinformatics and spectral analysis. Furthermore, the effect of the novel peptide on gastrointestinal stability by the Caco-2 cell model and calcium bioavailability in vivo were investigated by the zebrafish model. The results showed that a novel peptide was purified and identified as DEDEQIPSHPPR (CBP). Calcium ions probably coordinate with Glu-2 and Glu-4 carboxyl groups via salt bridges and interact with Asp-1, Asp-3, and Arg-12 in CBP via charge pairing. The calcium binding activity of the CBP was 36.64 ± 0.04 mg g-1 . Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra showed that calcium spontaneously bound to the amino group nitrogen and oxygen atoms of the carboxyl group. The binding mode is either bidentate or unidentate, depending on the circumstances. More importantly, the CBP peptide substantially increased the bone mass in a zebrafish osteoporosis model. The more glutamic acid and aspartic acid, the high was the calcium affinity with peptide. Soy yogurt-derived peptides can be used as carriers of calcium ions throughout the gastrointestinal tract, which may be clinically useful for osteoporosis therapy. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Importance of Poultry Meat in Medicine: A Review

The animal products, such as meat, milk, skin, blood, honey, and urine, have medicinal value for human diseases. Due to having high-quality components, poultry meat has therapeutic value. The present review aimed to describe the medicinal values of poultry meat for individuals who consume it during their life. Most poultry meat is classified as white meat, which contains lower fat and higher protein, compared with the meat of ovine, bovine, and pig. This feature of poultry meat (lower fat and higher protein) helps its consumers to have a normal physiological function of different organ systems. Moreover, it prevents many non-infectious diseases, including overweight, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Selenium and low contents of carcinogenic substances (myoglobin, heme iron, and saturated fat) in poultry meat also prevent different types of cancers. Poultry meat is also recommended to avoid anemia, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Dietary proteins, vitamins, and minerals in chicken meat are used for anti-aging, developing muscle and bone, improving the immune system, and increasing brain function. Traditionally, poultry is recommended as a supportive treatment for respiratory diseases, such as the common cold. Thus, consumption of poultry meat, especially chickens, up to 300g/once a week is recommended to prevent and reduce the risks of gastrointestinal cancers such as oesophageal cancer. Generally, regular consumption of poultry meat has health benefits for humans to prevent and reduce the risk of different diseases as chicken meat is a rich source of nutrition that can enhance the immunity system and tackle human disease risk factors. Keywords: Consumption, Health benefits, Meat, Poultry

Jatobá (Hymenaea sp.) as a wheat substitute in plant-based cookies to improve its nutritional quality

Jatoba (Hymenaea sp.) is a Brazilian savanna fruit with low lipid content, high amounts of dietary fiber, protein and minerals like calcium, iron, and zinc. Despite the lack of studies, due to jatoba nutritional characteristics, it could be used to replace wheat on plant-based cookies, improving their nutritional quality. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the use of jatoba flour to replace wheat flour in plant-based cookies regarding chemical composition and physical characteristics. Cookies were prepared with 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of jatoba flour replacing wheat flour and, subsequently, physical parameters (cooking factor, diameter, thickness and spread rate) and chemical composition were evaluated. Regarding the cooking factor, there was no significant difference between the samples, the cookies’ diameters were smaller in the samples 25%, 50% and 75% compared to the control sample and 100%.I In the thickness parameter the control sample showed a smaller value compared to the preparations made with jatoba and the spreading rate showed a significant difference from the control sample to the others, however the samples 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% did not differ from each other. Plant-based cookies with jatoba flour were higher in fiber, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc content than the control sample (100% based on wheat flour). Jatobá flour is a good alternative to improve the nutritional quality of plant-based cookies.

Bamboo and value addition: a boon for industrial development

Bamboo has been increasingly used as a substitute for tropical timber in the International market. Value-added bamboo products are becoming popular due to their characteristics of durability and strength, which resemble the qualities of tropical wood while providing an equally sustainable alternative. Bamboo is considered a grass with rapid growth. As it is a colony plant, it produces new canes (culms) every year from the root system. After 3 to 5 years, culms are ready for harvest, depending on the species. Every year, 5–6 culms can be harvested (from the species that are growing in clumps). Due to this feature, bamboos are mostly used in the rural and semi-urban areas to make houses and so is known as 'poor man's timber. Bamboo shows a very significant part in day-to-day survives (lodging, service, revenue, gasoline, etc.). Lately, bamboo has also found more uses in the manufacturing areas as well as in transitory assemblies. Moreover, being a vital section of cottage and rural business, it is also utilized in some dedicated different usages such bamboo wood, bamboo based-laminates, floor tiling, strengthening in cement material etc. Pulp and paper, Gasoline (charcoal), Fixtures and Handcrafts (picnic basket, jewellery, ball-points, cycles etc.), Building (houses, channels framework, armoured, barriers, concrete, boats), Harmonious Gadgets, Customary drugs, Food (shoots, wine) and silage. Separately from the varied usages of bamboo, the tender sprouts, being little in fat, rich in dietary fibre and mineral content, decent source of potassium, calcium, manganese, zinc, chromium, copper, iron and lesser quantity of phosphorus and selenium. The sprouts are eaten due to their unusual palate, flavour, medicinal and nourishing importance. Diverse value added foodstuffs such as nuggets, pickle and biscuit can be prepared from new bamboo sprouts. Anti-carcinogenic ingredients existing in sprouts marks them a regular portion of regime. It is assumed that bamboo extract offer anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, this paper discusses about the bamboo and its value addition via bamboo-based products industry's future.

Comparison of coated and uncoated trace elements on growth performance, apparent digestibility, intestinal development and microbial diversity in growing sheep.

The suitable supplement pattern affects the digestion and absorption of trace minerals by ruminants. This study aimed to compare the effects of coated and uncoated trace elements on growth performance, apparent digestibility, intestinal development and microbial diversity in growing sheep. Thirty 4-month-old male Yunnan semi-fine wool sheep were randomly assigned to three treatments (n = 10) and fed with following diets: basal diet without adding exogenous trace elements (CON), basal diet plus 400 mg/kg coated trace elements (CTE, the rumen passage rate was 65.87%) and basal diet plus an equal amount of trace elements in uncoated form (UTE). Compared with the CON group, the average daily weight gain and apparent digestibility of crude protein were higher (P < 0.05) in the CTE and UTE groups, while there was no difference between the CTE and UTE groups. The serum levels of selenium, iodine and cobalt were higher (P < 0.05) in the CTE and UTE groups than those in the CON group, the serum levels of selenium and cobalt were higher (P < 0.05) in the CTE group than those in the UTE group. Compared with the CON and UTE groups, the villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in duodenum and ileum were higher (P < 0.05) in the CTE groups. The addition of trace minerals in diet upregulated most of the relative gene expression of Ocludin, Claudin-1, Claudin-2, ZO-1, and ZO-2 in the duodenum and jejunum and metal ion transporters (FPN1 and ZNT4) in small intestine. The relative abundance of the genera Christensenellaceae R-7 group, Ruminococcus 1, Lachnospiraceae NK3A20 group, and Ruminococcaceae in ileum, and Ruminococcaceae UCG-014 and Lactobacillus in colon was higher in the CTE group that in the CON group. These results indicated that dietary trace mineral addition improved the growth performance and intestinal development, and altered the structure of intestinal bacteria in growing sheep. Compared to uncoated form, offering trace mineral elements to sheep in coated form had a higher absorption efficiency, however, had little effect on improving growth performance of growing sheep.

THE HIGH DIETARY FIBER, IRON AND ZINC PUDDING MADE FROM KELOR FLOUR ENRICHE WITH GINGER AS A GOOD SOURCE OF NUTRITION FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

The results of the Indonesian Nutritional Status Study in 2021 show that the prevalence of stunted in children is quite high it is 24.4%. Therefore, various strategies are needed to achieve the target, one of which is the fulfillment of nutrition for pregnant women as a preventive aspect of stunted. Kelor is one of the vegetables with high nutrients contents and can protect against oxidative stress also have potential as a ligand for stunting prevention through its antioxidant activity. Adding kelor leaves flour to the crackers made with catfish flour can increase protein and minerals but has a lack of an unpleasant aroma and the product is only limited to crackers. This research purposed to develop the product from kelor that is pudding from kelor and ginger as a food source of dietary fiber and minerals for pregnant women. The best formula chosen from organoleptic was is pudding with the addition 1.4% ginger and 100 g kelor leaves flour. The pudding contain 4.4% dietary fiber, 44.42 mg/100g iron, and 6.94 mg/100g zinc respectively. Selected pudding contain more than 6 g/100 g dietary fiber and more than 30% of iron and zinc standart for pregnant women group based on nutrition label reference (ALG, for Indonesian), so it can be claimed as a high dietary fiber, iron and zinc food.&#x0D;

Compositional characteristics, health benefit and risk of commercial bilberry and black chokeberry juices

An insight into chemical composition, nutritional value and potential health risk of increasingly popular bilberry and black chokeberry commercial juices was provided, based on HPLC-UV (anthocyanins and non-anthocyanin phenolics; patulin; hydroxymethylfurfural), AAS (minerals) and ICP-MS (trace elements) analyses. Delfinidin (in bilberry) and cyanidin glycosides (in bilberry and chokeberry) were the most abundantly present anthocyanins, chlorogenic acid dominated among non-anthocyanin polyphenols, while mineral composition revealed high K and desirable low Na content. A glass of blueberry/black chockeberry juice (200 mL) per day could provide up to 63.5/27.0 mg of anthocyanins, 147.2/314.0 mg of polyphenols, almost 50% of Mg (the only mineral satisfying the requirement for a nutritional claim) and, in case of chokeberry, 20% of Mn adequate intake. No health risk was observed related to any of the investigated toxicants. Despite indications of a possible benefitial role for health, observed compositional variations precluded positioning of berry juices as functional foods. The labelling could help specialist in nutrition and functional foods as well as health-conscious consumers seeking foods with reliable quantity of dietary valuable phytochemicals and minerals. Sufficiently characterised food has been one of the prerequisites for the approval of a health claim, along with sufficiently defined and substantiated claimed effect.

Banana Intake Relieves the Stress of Daily Life in Healthy Adult Volunteers: An Open, Randomized, Parallel-Group Comparative Study

Bananas are a well-balanced typical prebiotic food rich in dietary fiber, oligosaccharides, vitamins, and minerals. However, evidence supporting the stress-relieving effects of banana consumption in daily life is scarce. Therefore, we investigated the effects of banana-intake on stress-related markers, such as the intestinal environment, biochemical markers, autonomic balance, and mood status, in an open, randomized, parallel-group controlled trial using 20 healthy adult volunteers divided into a banana-intake group (n = 13 subjects, two bananas daily for 2 weeks) and a non-intake control group (n = 7, no banana-intake for 2 weeks). We measured the intestinal environmental marker urinary indoxyl sulfate, stress markers (salivary cortisol and chromogranin A), autonomic nervous system activity markers (heart rate, natural logarithm of low-frequency power [LnLF], natural logarithm of high-frequency power [LnHF], and LnLF/LnHF ratio), and mood status before and after the 2-week experimental period. We assessed the rate of change before and after banana-intake for all parameters by performing comparisons between the banana-intake and the non-intake control group as well as between the effective and ineffective groups within the banana-intake group. There was no significant difference in the rate of change for all parameters before and after banana-intake compared with the non-intake group. However, approximately 50% of the banana-intake group showed decreased urinary indoxyl sulfate; decreased cortisol and chromogranin A levels; decreased heartbeat and LnLF power, increased LnHF power, and decreased LnLF/LnHF ratio; a decrease in the five negative subscales, an increase in the two positive subscales, and a decrease in total mood disorder score. Our findings suggest that banana-intake for 2 weeks improves the intestinal environment, leads to predominant parasympathetic activity, and provides stress relief and psychological stability in approximately 50% of healthy adults.

Chemical composition of bunya nuts (Araucaria bidwillii) compared to Araucaria angustifolia and Araucaria araucana species

Three of nineteen Araucaria tree species from around the world produce large edible seeds. While composition is established for edible pinhão and piñones nuts from Brazil and Chile, respectively, the first detailed characterisation for the composition of edible Araucaria bidwillii (bunya nut) from Australia is provided. Almost half of the kernel weight is moisture and the main component in the dried kernel is starch. Whilst low in protein and fat, it contains all essential amino acids and half the fatty acids are polyunsaturated (Omega-3 and 6). Bunya nuts are a source of dietary fibre, folate and minerals (Cu, Mn, Fe, Mg), while the nut husks and inner coating are high in phenolics, mainly catechin. The composition supports the Traditional Knowledge of Aboriginal Australians that the bunya nut is an energy dense and nutrient rich food. Similarities in the composition among the three different edible varieties were found, which should assist in developing sustainable value chain propositions via shared knowledge on processing and utilisation.

Early warning of Diaporthe infection in kiwifruit soft rot by plasmonic dimer-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Diaporthe genus is the dominant pathogens of kiwifruit soft rot with long incubation period and rapid onset and very hard to detect in advance. It is of great significance to develop point-of-care tests for disease prevention and field management. Here we screen a pair of genus-level primers for constructing plasmonic dimer Rayleigh/Raman spectroscopy, which enables rapid, specific, and sensitive detection of Diaporthe genus in real kiwifruits. Dark-filed Rayleigh scattering clearly visualizes the target-induced dimer assembly of nanoprobes. Plasmonic dimer-enhanced Raman spectroscopy has high specificity for 12 common isolates of Diaporthe genus in one batch samples with highly accurate results and much higher sensitivity than polymerase chain reaction (PCR). It realizes the recognition of Diaporthe infection at an early stage of 24h when the kiwifruits do not have any noticeable symptoms. It demonstrates a bright prospect of point-of-care tests for early warning of kiwifruit soft rot infection and quality control.

Root Vegetables-Composition, Health Effects, and Contaminants.

Root vegetables are known all over the world, but they are being less and less consumed by individuals. The main purpose of this article was to summarize the benefits, health effects, and threats associated with the consumption of carrot, celery, parsley, beetroot, radish, turnip, and horseradish. They are characterized by high nutritional value due to their richness in dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. One of their most important features is their high content of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, phenols, flavonoids, and vitamin C. These compounds are responsible for antioxidant potential. Comparison of their antioxidant effects is difficult due to the lack of standardization among methods used for their assessment. Therefore, there is a need for a reference method that would allow for correct interpretation. Moreover, root vegetables are characterized by several health-promoting effects, including the regulation of metabolic parameters (glucose level, lipid profile, and blood pressure), antioxidant potential, prebiotic function, and anti-cancer properties. However, due to the type of cultivation, root vegetables are vulnerable to contaminants from the soil, such as toxic metals (lead and cadmium), pesticides, pharmaceutical residues, microplastics, and nitrates. Regardless, the low levels of toxic substances present in root vegetables do not pose health risks to the average consumer.

Effects of a dietary anionic alkali mineral complex in juvenile olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) during low water temperature season

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different supplementary levels of an anionic alkali mineral complex (AAMC) containing sodium metasilicate, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium tetraborate, sodium chloride, sodium thiosulfate, silver nitrate and sucrose on growth, innate immunity and disease resistance of juvenile olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) during the low temperature season (15.0 ± 2.6 ºC). The control diet was a commercial feed and 0.5%, 1% and 2% of AAMC were sprayed to the control diet to prepare experimental diets (Control, MC-0.5, MC-1.0, and MC-2.0). Quadruplicated groups of juvenile olive flounder (9.11 ± 0.04 g) were distributed in a flow-through system as 45 fish per tank and fed one of the experimental diets to apparent satiation twice a day (08:30 and 16:30 h) for 12 weeks. The dietary supplementation of AAMC improved the feed utilization of fish. Growth performance of fish was significantly improved by feeding MC-2.0 diet compared to control group. Fish fed MC-2.0 diet showed significantly higher blood hemoglobin level compared to the control. Gut morphology of fish was improved by dietary AAMC. Innate immunity and antioxidant capacity of fish were also significantly improved by dietary AAMC. Apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter was significantly increased in MC-1.0 diet, while protein digestibility was significantly higher in both MC-1.0 and MC-2.0 diets. The cumulative mortalities of challenged fish fed MC-1.0 and MC-2.0 diets were significantly reduced. In conclusion, the dietary supplementation of 2% AAMC significantly improved the growth performance, innate immunity, diet digestibility and disease resistance against Edwardsiella tarda in juvenile olive flounder reared in low water temperature season.

Prospective Role of Indigenous Leafy Vegetables as Functional Food Ingredients.

Indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs) play a pivotal role in sustaining the lives of many people of low socio-economic status who reside in rural areas of most developing countries. Such ILVs contribute to food security since they withstand harsher weather and soil conditions than their commercial counterparts and supply important nutrients such as dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals. Furthermore, ILVs contain bioactive components such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, dietary fibre, carotene content and vitamin C that confer health benefits on consumers. Several studies have demonstrated that regular and adequate consumption of vegetables reduces risks of chronic conditions such as diabetes, cancer, metabolic disorders such as obesity in children and adults, as well as cardiovascular disease. However, consumption of ILVs is very low globally as they are associated with unbalanced and poor diets, with being food for the poor and with possibly containing toxic heavy metals. Therefore, this paper reviews the role of ILVs as food security crops, the biodiversity of ILVs, the effects of processing on the bioactivity of ILVs, consumer acceptability of food derived from ILVs, potential toxicity of some ILVs and the potential role ILVs play in the future of eating.

Effect of Inclusion of Date Press Cake on Texture, Color, Sensory, Microstructure, and Functional Properties of Date Jam

Date press cake (DPC) is a by-product of the date syrup industry with a high content of dietary fibers, minerals, and antioxidant compounds. Accordingly, the present study aimed to evaluate the inclusion of DPC on the color parameters, texture profile, sensory evaluation, microstructure properties, total phenolics, and antioxidant capacity of date jam. The DPC was included in the preparation of date jam in an increasing level of 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12% (w/w). The results revealed that increasing DPC levels significantly increased the hardness, cohesiveness, adhesiveness, and chewiness properties of date jam. The increase in DPC inclusion levels significantly decreased the L* values and increased the a*, b*, and ΔE values of the jam. The DPC addition significantly increased the phenolics content and antioxidant capacity in a dose-dependent manner and the highest value reported in the jam contained 12% DPC by 40.02 and 11.50% compared to the control, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy results revealed that the addition of DPC up to 9% resulted in a jam surface with a denser network, homogeneous structure, and without cracks and pores, indicating improvement in the morphological properties. The sensory evaluation results showed that date jam prepared with 9% DPC had the highest overall acceptability score. This study revealed the potential use of DPC in date jam formulation up to 9% as a natural, functional, and low-cost ingredient to improve the jam’s textural properties, antioxidant capacity, and overall acceptability.