Food Sources Research Articles

Dynamical behaviors of autonomous and nonautonomous models of generalist predator–prey system with fear, mutual interference and nonlinear harvesting

In this study, we explore a predator–prey model to evaluate the impacts of fear, mutual interference, and harvesting, as these factors play crucial roles in modifying population dynamics, trophic cascades, and species interactions. Additionally, we enhance the model to incorporate the seasonality of specific ecological factors across time. The autonomous and associated nonautonomous models have undergone thorough mathematical analysis and extensive numerical simulations in the course of the study. We conduct a fundamental differential sensitivity analysis to discern the key parameters influencing both prey and predator populations within the ecosystem. Through numerical investigations of the autonomous model, we notice that in the presence (absence) of harvesting, the mutual interference among predators destabilizes (stabilizes) the coexisting equilibrium. The fear effect significantly reduces the densities of prey and predator populations, and destabilizes the coexisting equilibrium by producing multiple stability switches. The survival of predators substantially depends on the focal prey if their growth from other food sources is relatively low. Notably, the harvesting of predators is beneficial and promotes the coexistence of species only when their growth from other food sources is too much. Moreover, the system shows bistability, tristability, and multiple limit cycles under identical ecological conditions. We also show various phenomena that manifest within the seasonally forced model, including the emergence of periodic solutions, higher periodic solutions, bursting patterns, and chaotic dynamics. Remarkably, the influence of seasonal forcing possesses the capability to govern the chaotic dynamics by giving rise to an exceedingly quasi-periodic arrangement in the prey and predator densities.

Ecofriendly Utilization of Distillery Spentwash for Enhancing Growth and Yield of Pearl Millet

The Post Biomethanated Distillery Spentwash (PBDSW) is effective organic liquid manure derived from sugar industry waste materials. Spentwash contain high amount of nutrients like Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium and Sulfur. In addition, it contains sufficient amount of micronutrients such as Iron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Boron and Molybdenum. The spentwash application on land is beneficial to control the water pollution and agricultural production. The experiment was performed with different doses of Post Biomethanated Distillery Spentwash (PBDSW) as a source of nutrients in various proportions with inorganic fertilizer using pearl millet as the test crop. The results of the experiment showed that the application of PBDSW at the rate of 100 KL ha-1 in combination with NPK recorded higher ear head, grain and stover yield as compared to other substitution level, split application and control.

Minerals and dietary fibre source snack made from Moringa leaves enriched with ginger

The findings from the 2021 Indonesian Nutritional Status Study reveal a substantial 24.4% prevalence of child stunting, emphasizing the need for diverse strategies to achieve the desired target. One such strategy involves ensuring the nutritional well-being of expectant mothers to prevent stunting. Moringa leaves are a rich source of essential nutrients. Incorporating Moringa leaf powder into catfish flour-based snacks can boost their protein and mineral content while overcoming any undesirable odors, though this application is currently limited to crackers. This study aimed to create snack products using Moringa leaves, such as tea, brownies, and pudding, with the addition of ginger to enhance dietary fiber and mineral content for pregnant women. The top formulations identified through sensory assessment are F1 tea, F1 brownies, and F2 pudding. These specific tea, brownies, and pudding variations boast dietary fiber content exceeding 3 grams and meet or exceed 15% of the recommended daily intake levels for iron and zinc for pregnant women, as stipulated by the nutrition label reference. As a result, they can be classified as wholesome snacks rich in dietary fiber, iron, and zinc.

A diachronic study of human-bear interactions: An overview of ursid exploitation during the Paleolithic of Germany

In the Palearctic region interactions between hominins and ursids date as far back as the Lower Paleolithic. Archeological evidence from open-air settings and cave environments shows that Paleolithic people and bears shared the same habitats and living spaces. Additionally, anthropogenic marks on bear remains indicate that hominins regarded bears as an occasional source of food and raw material. While scholars have largely focused on solving the conundrum between opportunistic predation and strategic hunting of bears by hominins, little attention has been given to categorizing the anthropogenic modifications on bear remains. In this study we present a comparative overview of the ursid assemblages with anthropogenic modifications from five German sites with ages ranging between the Lower and Upper Paleolithic. Our aim is to assess differences and similarities in the ways hunter-gatherers exploited bears, first by documenting the range of modifications and their location on the bear skeleton, and second by evaluating their significance in relation to subsistence and other cultural behaviors. We discuss our results by presenting a critical evaluation of the finds, that takes into account their geographic and chrono-cultural setting. In this way, we provide a framework for understanding past interactions between hominins and ursids.

Recovery of nutrients from fish sludge to enhance the growth of microalga Chlorella sorokiniana CMBB276

Intensive aquaculture production generates large amounts of sludge. This waste could be considered as a potential source of nutrients that can be recovered and utilized. Little attention has been paid to nutrient recovery from fish sludge. In this study, bioconversion of sludge was evaluated in lab scale under anaerobic (AN), facultative anaerobic (FA) and aerobic (AE) conditions. After 40 days of fermentation, AN recovered the highest values of dissolved total nitrogen (82.7 mg L−1), while AE showed the highest dissolved total phosphorus (11.8 mg L−1) and the highest reduction of total suspended solids (36.0 %). Microbial analysis showed that AN exhibited a distinct bacterial community than that of FA and AE. Furthermore, C. sorokiniana grown in AN effluents collected after 12 days of fermentation achieved the highest biomass production (1.96 g L−1). These results suggest that AN has the best potential to recover nutrients from sludge for production of C. sorokiniana.

Resource-efficient federated learning over IoAT for rice leaf disease classification

Rice is an important staple food in Asia. It is produced and consumed in large quantities. It contributes to 15% of protein intake and 21% of total per capita energy intake in the region, underscoring its important role as a primary global food source. Conversely, rice plants are heavily affected by bacterial, fungal and other microbial diseases, resulting in reduced plant health and crop yields and posing a major challenge for rice farmers. Manual diagnosis of these diseases is particularly problematic in regions with a shortage of agricultural experts. Farmers with insufficient experience sometimes incorrectly identify these diseases by hand. Recent advances in deep learning (DL) models offer a promising solution through automatic image recognition systems that can be very helpful in accurately identifying these diseases. This manuscript presents a resource-efficient federated learning IoAT (Internet of Agriculture Things) approach for rice leaf disease classification. This approach incorporates two key strategies, namely federated transfer learning and feature extraction, and evaluates their performance on various metrics such as accuracy, loss, precision, recall, AUC, and resource-related parameters such as GPU memory consumption, virtual memory, CPU and GPU process utilization. The dataset used in the study includes 5932 images of rice leaf diseases categorized as bacterial leaf blight, blast, brown spot and tungro. The research investigates the application of federated transfer learning and federated feature extraction techniques to classify rice leaf disease images. It performs a comparative analysis of their performance and resource utilization. EfficientNetB3, with an impressive validation accuracy of 99%, is identified as the base model for the federated learning (FL) environment. Furthermore, we implement FL using both transfer learning and feature extraction methods and compare their results on a number of performance and resource related parameters. It is shown that the federated feature extraction approach has lower GPU memory and process utilization compared to the federated transfer learning approach and is thus more resource efficient. Extracting features before model training results in a lightweight model, which is especially beneficial for FL, IoAT devices that require efficient execution on edge devices. Therefore, the proposed approach is presented as a lightweight, privacy-friendly and resource-efficient solution for rice leaf disease classification.

Genotype by environment interaction and stability study in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes in Guji Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Genotype by environment interaction and stability study in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes in Guji Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Study on the development of maggots on meat

Studying the behavior of maggots on a decaying body can assist in determining the victim's time of death in Forensic Entomology. In this experiment, different parts of chicken meat were placed in an experiment box in different settings. These experiment boxes were modified into fly traps to prevent interference from other creatures like rats, cats or dogs. Experiment box contains the legs’ part, neck part, muscle part, wing part and liver. The plastic bucket is used for the setting of the different parts of meat pieces in a plate box which has holes and a space to hold the meat pieces. The meat placed on the Plastic box holder counter begins to be decomposed by microorganisms and attracts flies as a rich food source. By hanging this Experiment Box near the outside garbage of the house for a week, flies were able to access them and lay eggs. The eggs on the meat hatch into larvae. This experiment was conducted in different steps. Firstly, fresh meat was exposed to collect the eggs which were reared and used to study the development of maggots. Calculating the age of different life stages of maggots, hourly developmental data is presented i.e.- eggs hatched in 16 hours while all the three instars of larvae took 92 hrs. followed by the pupal stage which was 14 days. Surprisingly, the results were amazing observing the different developmental stages of maggots after hours, as the meat in the experiment box produced maggots in a few days and shows the different time duration for development stages of maggots and adult flies.

Effects of dietary fiber on maternal health in pregnant women with metabolic syndrome risk: a randomized controlled trial.

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) during pregnancy can lead to complications such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and hypertensive disorders. In this study, we sought to examine the influence of dietary fiber, from both food sources and soluble fiber supplementation, on the metabolic health and overall pregnancy outcomes of women at high risk of MetS. We conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 376 women between 11 and 13 weeks of gestation. To evaluate dietary fiber intake, we performed an exhaustive dietary component analysis using a food frequency questionnaire. Additionally, the participants in the intervention group received daily soluble fiber supplements until delivery. All participants underwent nutritional consultations and metabolic health assessments at three distinct stages of pregnancy (GW 11-13, GW 24-26, and GW 32-34). Our findings revealed a significant correlation between insufficient dietary fiber intake and an increased risk of GDM, even after adjusting for variables such as maternal age and pre-pregnancy BMI. We also noted that a high total dietary fiber intake was associated with reduced changes in triglyceride levels. In addition, the intervention group showed lower need for constipation medication, and soluble fiber supplementation may offer potential benefits for GDM patients. Importantly, our study verified the safety of long-term soluble fiber supplementation during pregnancy. Our results underscore the importance of adequate fiber intake, particularly from dietary sources, for the metabolic health of pregnant women. Moreover, our findings suggest that early fiber supplementation may benefit pregnant women experiencing constipation or those diagnosed with GDM.

Application of microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) process in concrete self-healing and environmental restoration to facilitate carbon neutrality: a critical review.

Soil contamination, land desertification and concrete cracking can have significant adverse impacts on sustainable human economic and societal development. Cost-effective and environmentally friendly approaches are recommended to resolve these issues. Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is an innovative, attractive and cost-effective in situ biotechnology with high potential for remediation of polluted or desertified soils/lands and cracked concrete and has attracted widespread attention in recent years. Accordingly, the principles of MICP technology and its applications in the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated and desertified soils and self-healing of concrete were reviewed in this study. The production of carbonate mineral precipitates during the MICP process can effectively reduce the mobility of heavy metals in soils, improve the cohesion of dispersed sands and realize self-healing of cracks in concrete. Moreover, CO2 can be fixed during MICP, which can facilitate carbon neutrality and contribute to global warming mitigation. Overall, MICP technology exhibits great promise in environmental restoration and construction engineering applications, despite some challenges remaining in its large-scale implementation, such as the substantial impacts of fluctuating environmental factors on microbial activity and MICP efficacy. Several methods, such as the use of natural materials or wastes as nutrient and calcium sources and isolation of bacterial strains with strong resistance to harsh environmental conditions, are employed to improve the remediation performance of MICP. However, more studies on the efficiency enhancement, mechanism exploration and field-scale applications of MICP are needed.

Creation of Single Cell Protein-Producing Mutants of Phaffia Rhodozyma

Recently, there has been an increasing demand for sustainable protein sources for aquaculture. In aquaculture, sustainable protein includes sources that can be produced with a minimal environmental footprint, such as single-cell proteins, proteins from algae, insects, and by-products from the agricultural industry. Single-cell proteins that are derived from microorganisms show a sustainable alternative to traditional protein sources due to their high protein content and rapid growth. This research focuses on creating mutants of the yeast Phaffia rhodozyma to increase single-cell protein production. This yeast has significant industrial potential and biological features. The yeast Phaffia rhodozyma is already known for its unique ability to synthesize astaxanthin, so this case will focus on its ability to produce protein. In the study, we used wild strain yeast and previously obtained white mutants on inorganic nitrogen media for further random mutagenesis methods to introduce specific mutations into the genome aimed at improving their ability to biosynthesize protein. Amino acid inhibitor was used to select potential protein-producing mutants. The protein content of the biomass obtained from the experiments was analyzed in detail using BCA (Protein Assay Reagent) analysis, which confirmed their potential as a source of nutrients for aquaculture. This method is based on the reaction between bicinchoninic acid and the peptide bonds of proteins, which results in the formation of a color whose intensity is proportional to the amount of protein in the sample. The results obtained allow further research into the development of cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternatives for feed in aquaculture.

Glass bead system to study mycotoxin production of Aspergillus spp. on corn and rice starches.

Mycotoxin production by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) -producing Aspergillus flavus Zt41 and sterigmatocystin (ST) -hyperproducer Aspergillus creber 2663 mold strains on corn and rice starch, both of high purity and nearly identical amylose-amylopectin composition, as the only source of carbon, was studied. Scanning electron microscopy revealed average starch particle sizes of 4.54 ± 0.635µm and 10.9 ± 2.78µm, corresponding to surface area to volume ratios of 127 1/µm for rice starch and 0.49 1/µm for corn starch. Thus, a 2.5-fold difference in particle size correlated to a larger, 259-fold difference in surface area. To allow starch, a water-absorbing powder, to be used as a sole food source for Aspergillus strains, a special glass bead system was applied. AFB1 production of A. flavus Zt41 was determined to be 437.6 ± 128.4ng/g and 90.0 ± 44.8ng/g on rice and corn starch, respectively, while corresponding ST production levels by A. creber 2663 were 72.8 ± 10.0µg/g and 26.8 ± 11.6µg/g, indicating 3-fivefold higher mycotoxin levels on rice starch than on corn starch as sole carbon and energy sources. KEY POINTS: • A glass bead system ensuring the flow of air when studying powders was developed. • AFB1 and ST production of A. flavus and A. creber on rice and corn starches were studied. • 3-fivefold higher mycotoxin levels on rice starch than on corn starch were detected.

Efficient Low-Temperature Nutrient Removal from Agricultural Digestate Using Microalgae

Humanity is facing an energy crisis triggered by the depletion of fossil fuels, rapid industrialization, and the growthof the global population. These trendsput an emphasis on searching for alternative energy sources. Additionally, the rising concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is driving climate change, which poses serious threats. In this scenario, microalgae emerge as a promising solution for both sustainable energy production and CO2 sequestration. Digestate, a nutrient-rich by-product of anaerobic digestion, is considered a cost-effective nutrient source for microalgae cultivation. Utilizing digestate not only enhances the sustainability and economic feasibility of microalgal biofuels but also offers a method for wastewater treatment. Nevertheless, the application of digestate is limited by its high optical density and substantialamount of total solids.In this study, several pretreatment methods were tested to increase the feasibility of digestate application for microalgae cultivation. Our findings show that various centrifugation methods and vacuum filtration decrease the content of total solids but are not effective in reducing optical density. Although the use of microalgae in treating various wastewaters has shown promising outcomes, the effectiveness of nutrient removal at low temperatures remainslargely unexplored.To fill this gap, green microalga Chlorella sorokiniana was cultivated in pretreated diluted liquid digestate in dynamic springtime weather conditions in a covered open race-way pond integrated into a biogas plant.During the cultivation, high solar irradiance and low temperatures were recorded resulting in suboptimal conditions for C. sorokinianagrowth. Although low productivity of C. sorokiniana was detected, the nutrient removal efficiency was high. C. sorokiniana could efficiently remove 83% of nitrogen and 85% of phosphorus showing very promising results of the use of microalgae for wastewater treatment in high latitude regions.

Characterization of Mixtures of Rugulopteryx okamurae Compost and Plant Residues to Determine the Most Effective Composition as a Substrate and Source of Nutrients

The increasing invasion of Rugulopteryx okamurae algae along the coast of southeastern Spain has prompted efforts to explore its potential as a resource. Consequently, composting this alga is considered a viable solution for agricultural applications. This study investigates the composting process of mixtures of R. okamurae seaweed with plant residues and characterizes the final compost for its use as a substrate and/or source of nutrients to determine the most effective composition of the mixture. The composting process was conducted using varying proportions of seaweed (100%, 30–35%, and 15%) combined with plant residues (from vegetable plants, fruits, and gardens) and included both washed and unwashed seaweed. The first trials revealed challenges associated with Rugulopteryx okamurae, such as a low C/N ratio and algae washing. Consequently, a second trial was conducted to optimize the mixtures, aiming for a C/N ratio close to 30. Additionally, it was decided not to wash the algae to reduce the electrical conductivity (EC) in the mixtures. The findings indicate that the composting process remains unaffected by high electrical conductivity when algae are unwashed. However, washing the algae before composting did affect the compost quality, as the composts with washed algae with garden waste (SwP 34.0 dS m−1) had a lower electrical conductivity (EC) than did the unwashed composts with garden waste (SP 51.6 dS m−1 and SFP 64.9 dS m−1). On the other hand, the compost-only horticultural and garden waste (FHP 43.7 dS m−1) had a high EC; therefore, the EC was not increased with low proportions of unwashed algae, as was seen with the compost with 15% unwashed algae (SFHP 47.6 dS m−1). The other quality parameters were not affected by the absence of algae washing at the beginning of the composting process.

Are sun exposure time, dietary patterns, and vitamin D intake related to the socioeconomic status of Portuguese children?

To investigate the association among sun exposure time, vitamin D intake, dietary patterns, and socioeconomic status in Portuguese children. Participants aged 3-11 years (50.1% females) were recruited from public and private schools (n = 118) in the districts of Coimbra (n = 2980), Lisbon (n = 3066), and Porto (n = 2426). Parents reported their children's daily sun exposure time during the summer season and reported children's food consumption, including vitamin D food sources, using standardized questionnaires. Parents' education level was used as a proxy measure to the socioeconomic status (SES). The principal component factor analysis (PCA) method was used to identify dietary patterns. The eight dietary patterns identified were labeled in: "fast food", "rich in vitamin D", "sugary drinks", "vitamin D", "candies", "supplements", "rich in calcium" and "vegetables/healthy". Linear regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between sun exposure time and dietary patterns according to SES. A total of 4755 children were included. Children from high SES had significantly longer sun exposure time (p < .001) and more frequently consumed vitamin D supplements (p < .001). "Fast food" pattern showed a negative association with sun exposure time in medium and high SES (p = .014 and p < .001, respectively). Children with lower SES spend less time exposed to the sun, consume fewer dietary sources of vitamin D, and consume more foods rich in fat and sugar.

Cholera: A Latent Threat to Human Health

: Cholera outbreaks caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae present a significant global health challenge, with a notable increase in cases recently reported. The disease is characterized by severe watery diarrhea, leading to dehydration and potential fatalities if not promptly addressed. Transmission occurs through contaminated food and water sources, underscoring the importance of water sanitation and hygiene measures to prevent outbreaks. Limited healthcare access and inadequate reporting systems make estimating cholera cases and deaths challenging. Antibiotic resistance is also a concerning issue, necessitating the development of new treatment options. Prompt laboratory diagnosis is essential, with rapid diagnostic tests and PCR showing promise for pathogen detection. Treatment involves fluid replacement and appropriate antibiotic use to reduce disease severity and transmission. Oral cholera vaccines offer preventive measures for high-risk individuals during outbreaks. To combat the escalating cholera epidemic and save lives, a comprehensive approach, including improved water sanitation, early detection, and timely treatment, is crucial.

Exploring innovative food in a developing country: Edible insects as a sustainable option

Abstract Today's consumers are becoming more aware of what they eat and the benefits that a healthy diet can provide. Edible insects (EIs) have recently been proposed as a sustainable, protein-rich alternative food source. Consumers' adoption of insects as part of their diet may be influenced by their awareness of this source of food. In this context, the current study investigated the level of knowledge about EI in a developing country, with the goal of understanding how Lebanese people perceive EI as food, as well as whether there are any sociodemographic or socioeconomic differences in their knowledge and motivation to accept EI as food. This was a cross-sectional study conducted using a questionnaire survey of 357 Lebanese participants. Basic descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the data, which were supplemented with statistical tests such as ANOVA for comparisons between three or more groups with post hoc to examine any group differences and Cronbach's alpha to assess internal scale reliability. The search for differences according to sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics showed significant differences between age groups and levels of education. Additionally, the results showed that the items used to assess the EI dimensions scale have a very high internal consistency, with the lowest being nutritional aspects (α = 0.669) and the highest being health effects (α = 0.797). This work is relevant because it highlights the EI food dimensions that influence people’s acceptance in Lebanon, which is facing social and economic crises while highlighting many age inequalities and education level differences. Based on the findings, individual EI dimensions were discovered, allowing for strategies deployment to effectively improve knowledge and eventually respond to a Sustainable Development Goal objective even in a nation where this is not a traditional practice.

Sludge degradation, nutrient removal and reduction of greenhouse gas emission by a Chironomus-Azolla wastewater treatment cascade.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are a point source of nutrients, emit greenhouse gases (GHGs), and produce large volumes of excess sludge. The use of aquatic organisms may be an alternative to the technical post-treatment of WWTP effluent, as they play an important role in nutrient dynamics and carbon balance in natural ecosystems. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the performance of an experimental wastewater-treatment cascade of bioturbating macroinvertebrates and floating plants in terms of sludge degradation, nutrient removal and lowering GHG emission. To this end, a full-factorial experiment was designed, using a recirculating cascade with a WWTP sludge compartment with or without bioturbating Chironomus riparius larvae, and an effluent container with or without the floating plant Azolla filiculoides, resulting in four treatments. To calculate the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and carbon (C) mass balance of this system, the N, P and C concentrations in the effluent, biomass production, and sludge degradation, as well as the N, P and C content of all compartments in the cascade were measured during the 26-day experiment. The presence of Chironomus led to an increased sludge degradation of 44% compared to 25% in the control, a 1.4 times decreased transport of P from the sludge and a 2.4 times increased transport of N out of the sludge, either into Chironomus biomass or into the water column. Furthermore, Chironomus activity decreased methane emissions by 92%. The presence of Azolla resulted in a 15% lower P concentration in the effluent than in the control treatment, and a CO2 uptake of 1.13 kg ha-1 day-1. These additive effects of Chironomus and Azolla resulted in an almost two times higher sludge degradation, and an almost two times lower P concentration in the effluent. This is the first study that shows that a bio-based cascade can strongly reduce GHG and P emissions simultaneously during the combined polishing of wastewater sludge and effluent, benefitting from the additive effects of the presence of both macrophytes and invertebrates. In addition to the microbial based treatment steps already employed on WWTPs, the integration of higher organisms in the treatment process expands the WWTP based ecosystem and allows for the inclusion of macroinvertebrate and macrophyte mediated processes. Applying macroinvertebrate-plant cascades may therefore be a promising tool to tackle the present and future challenges of WWTPs.

Sources and determinants of free sugars intake by 5-year-old Australian children in the SMILE cohort.

Reducing free sugars intake is important for the prevention of dental caries and obesity in children. The study aimed to determine the amount and sources of free sugars known to contribute to dental caries, and identify sociodemographic determinants of intake by children aged 5 years in Australia. Cross-sectional analysis of dietary data from a cohort study, collected using a customized food frequency questionnaire were used to calculate free sugars intake as grams/day and percentage contribution to Estimated Energy Requirement (EER).The percent contribution of food sources to free sugars intake was derived. Sociodemographic determinants of achieving intakes within WHO thresholds (i.e., <5% and <10% Energy were explored with multinomial logistic regression. Complete data were available for 641 children (347 boys, 294 girls). Median (IQR)free sugars intake (g/day) was 31.6 (21.3-47.6) in boys and 28.1 (19.6-47.9) in girls. The median (IQR)percentage contribution to EER was 7.9 (5.4-12.7); 21% and 42% of children had intakes <5% EER and between 5% and<10%, respectively. The main sources of free sugars were: (1) Cakes, Biscuits and Cereal Bars; (2) Sweetened Milk Products (predominantly yoghurts) and (3) Desserts. Maternal university education, single-parent household, and maternal place of birth being Australia or New Zealand were associated with free sugars intake <5% EER. In conclusion, less than a quarter of 5-year-old children in the SMILE cohort achieved the WHO recommendations to limit free sugars to <5% EER. Strategies to lower free sugars intake could target priority populations such migrants, populations with lower levels of education or health literacy and identify areas for intervention in the wider food environments that children are exposed to.

Comparative Phytochemistry of Vitellaria paradoxa: Towards Establishing a Chemotaxonomic Marker

Plants have been known to serve as source of food, income and in the maintenance of health, with their phytochemicals responsible for the biological properties of plants. All parts of shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) are consumed by human and livestock as medicine. The variations in the morphology and chemistry of shea tree and its product have been attributed to the various factors including their geographical sources among others. The phytochemical study of methanol extracts of the stem and leaf of shea tree collected from three locations were determined and compared. Qualitative phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, tannins, saponins, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids and triterpenes. Alkaloidal contents in the leaf extracts ranged from 8.96 ± 0.05 to 16.96 ± 0.48 while the content in the stem extracts is 5.38 ± 0.04 to 14.93 ± 0.02. The phenol contents were higher in both extracts ranging from 43.05 ± 0.04 to 142.96 ± 0.07 and 85.05 ± 0.04 to 148.51 ± 0.07 in the leaf and stem extracts, respectively. Saponin contents in the leaf range from 3.56 ± 0.01 to 19.46 ± 0.01 in the leaf extracts and 9.93 ± 0.01 to 16.62 ± 0.01 in the stem extracts. Compounds such as myricetin, kaempferol-3-glucuronide, dihydroisorhamnetin, vanillic acid, 5,7-dihydroxy2-(4-hydroxy-3)methoxy)-3-{(3,4,5- trihydroxy-6 (hydroxymethyl)-oxan-2-yl)oxy}-4H-chromen4-one, 1H-indole-3-acetronitrille, 3,5-trihydroxy-10 methylacridone, syringin, gallic acid, anthranilic acid and quassin were identified in the liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopies (LC-MS) of the methanolic stem and leaf extracts of shea tree. The results of the phytochemical investigation indicate variation in the chemical composition of the plant across the study area.