Fortification Of Foodstuffs Research Articles

Influence of diverse natural biopolymers on the physicochemical characteristics of borage seed oil-peppermint oil loaded W/O/W nanoemulsions entrapped with lycopene

Borage seed oil (BSO), peppermint oil (PO) and lycopene (LC) have accomplished a lot of interest due to their therapeutic benefits in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. However, their employment in functional food products and dietary supplements is still precluded by their high susceptibility to oxidation. Thus, the encapsulation can be applied as a promising strategy to overcome these limits. In the present study, doubly layered water/oil/water (W/O/W) nanoemulsions were equipped using purity gum ultra (PGU), soy protein isolate (SPI), pectin (PC), whey protein isolate (WPI) and WPI-PC and SPI-PC complexes, and their physico-chemical properties were investigated. Our aim was to investigate the influence of natural biopolymers as stabilizers on the physicochemical properties of nanoemulsified BSO, PO and lycopene thru W/O/W emulsions. The droplet size of the fabricated emulsions coated with PGU, WPI, SPI, PC, WPI-PC, and SPI-PC was 156.2, 265.9, 254.7, 168.5, 559.5 and 656.1 nm, correspondingly. The encapsulation efficiency of the entrapped bioactives for powders embedded by PGU, WPI, SPI, PC, WPI-PC, and SPI-PC was 95.21%, 94.67%, 97.24%, 92.19%, 90.07% and 92.34%, respectively. In addition, peroxide and p-anisidine values were used to measure the antioxidant potential of the entrapped bioactive compounds during storage, which was compared to synthetic antioxidant and bare natural antioxidant. The collected findings revealed that oxidation occurred in oils encompassing entrapped bioactive compounds, but at a lower extent than for non-encapsulated bioactives. In summary, the findings obtained from current research prove that the nanoencapsulation of BSO surrounded by innermost aqueous stage of W/O/W improved its stability as well as allowed a controlled release of the entrapped bioactives. Thus, the obtained BSO-PO-based systems could be successfully used for further fortification of food-stuffs.

Interventions for Prevention and Control of Epidemic of Vitamin D Deficiency.

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) remains a significant health challenge globally with its overwhelming effects on skeletal growth and varied associations with extra-skeletal diseases. The last decade has reported a high prevalence of VDD in all age-groups across all zones of India. Children and adolescents are most vulnerable to ill-effects of VDD as peak linear growth and bone mass accrual occurs during these years. Vitamin D deficiency in mothers predisposes their infants to have low serum vitamin D levels. Indians have increased susceptibility to develop VDD due to predominant vegetarian dietary habits, high melanin skin content, atmospheric pollution, modest tradition of clothing and limited availability of fortified foods. Vitamin D supplementation during infancy and childhood has emerged as an effective strategy to combat VDD. However, effects of vitamin D supplementation are transient and are not cost-effective as a maintenance strategy. Fortification of foodstuffs has been adopted by many developed countries globally which has emerged as a safe, efficacious and cost-effective strategy to control VDD. A strong political will and support is required to sustain food fortification in India. The current review focuses on strategies to prevent and control the epidemic of VDD in children.

How is the process of setting micronutrients recommendations reflected in nutrition policies in Poland? The case study of folate.

Ensuring the adequate intake of micronutrients by populations is an important aspect of public health. This study aims to elucidate the process of setting nutrition recommendations and the development of subsequent policies associated with micronutrients in Poland by using the case study of folate. The study was based on 13 interviews conducted between October 2010 - February 2011, and desk research comprising a review of the associated scientific literature and relevant documents, such as scientific opinions and reports of the meetings of scientific committees. The interviews were conducted within the EURRECA (EURopean micronutrient RECommendations Aligned) Network of Excellence in the frame of the European Union's 6th Framework Programme. Since 1997, the Experts Group of the Ministry of Health recommended that all women of childbearing age should consume folic acid as a supplement to prevent neural tube defects in their offspring. The fortification of foodstuffs with folic acid is not obligatory. This study describes the revision of the folate nutrient recommendation and the process by which strategies to increase the intake of this vitamin by the Polish population were identified. The institution responsible for the choice and implementation of folate policy is the Ministry of Health and the National Food and Nutrition Institute is responsible for setting/updating the nutrient recommendations. The current Polish nutrition recommendations for folate are consistent with the levels set by most other countries. The constant improvement of nutritional knowledge on folate among consumers, especially young women, is necessary.

Vitamin D and Hypertension: An Overview of Current Scenario

India has become the capital of all communicable diseases and noncommunicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes. Vitamin D deficiency is also very high in the Indian subcontinent (as high as 80–90%). Therefore, it is possible that these issues are interrelated, or we should look for possible relations. The landmark study by us suggested the cause of vitamin D deficiency as poor dietary intake or in other words due to malnu trition. Vitamin D deficiency is multifactorial in etiology; the etiological factors vary from place to place and person to person. The three primary reasons for the deficiency are: lack of balanced diet, reduced sunlight exposure and increased melanin in the skin. Even if, by chance, someone gets adequate vitamin D from diet and sunlight, its activation in the liver and kidneys is defective due to increasing prevalence of liver and kidney diseases. Liver diseases are on the increase due to overeating with consequent obesity and nonalcoholic liver disease, or due to alcohol intake and exposure to hepatotoxic agents or infections. Subclinical liver disease is now widely prevalent in the people with consequent poor activation of vitamin D. Increasing renal diseases due to several reasons and the lack of vegetables and fruits consumption with consequent hypomagnesemia contribute to poor 1-hydroxylation in the kidneys. Lack of intake of balanced diet, lack of outdoor exercises and eating more food are all lifestyle issues, and the same are the causes for diseases, like hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease (IHD), strokes and cancers and, therefore, the link between vitamin D deficiency and these diseases become very obvious. It is only natural that we see vitamin D deficiency in all the diseases, or supplementation of vitamin D benefits all the patients. To tackle the problem of vitamin D deficiency in India, we need to address all the healthcare issues simultaneously and empower the people for regular intake of balanced diet, doing regular exercise and exposure to sunlight through systematic and meticulous social, educational, agricultural and financial reforms. Therefore, all disease control programs in India should focus on empowering the people, by the necessary social reforms and its implementation. As an interim measure, fortification of foodstuffs like oil or wheat-flour also may be tried till such time that all sections of the society are empowered for taking balanced diet regularly.

Folic Acid, Selected Cancers and All-cause Mortality: A Meta-analysis

Fortification of foodstuffs with folic acid is mandatory in many countries. Although the effect of folic acid in reducing neural tube defects in utero is well accepted, questions have been raised about possible adverse effects of higher intakes of folic acid on adult health. An increase in colorectal cancer and some other cancers has been postulated. As part of a larger fortification monitoring program in Australia, we conducted a systematic review of trials of folic acid for these outcomes. We found 26 trials using between 0.420mg folic acid/day which reported all-cause mortality or the incidence of specified cancers or recurrence of colorectal adenoma. Using the in-trial follow-up data, the relative risks were 1.04 for total incident cancer (13 studies), 1.0 for colorectal and lung cancers, 0.82 for breast cancer, 1.16 for prostate cancer, 0.97 for the recurrence of colorectal adenoma and 1.11 for the recurrence of advanced colorectal adenoma. There was no association with all-cause mortality (relative risk=0.99, 23 studies). None of the relative risks were statistically significant at the customary alpha level. Our findings are similar to those of previous meta-analyses that have used different inclusion criteria to select studies.

Formation of natural casein micelle nanocapsule by means of pH changes and ultrasound

The effects of alkaline pH and ultrasound treatment on the formation, structure, encapsulation efficiency (EE), and protective properties of natural casein micelles were investigated. With raising the pH, the turbidity of skim milk reduced while the size of casein micelle particles as well as their physical stability and encapsulation capability increased, likely due to the loose-fitting structure of natural casein micelles and the electrostatic repulsion between the casein molecules where all these changes ultimately led to an increase in availability of interior hydrophobic areas. As a result, the hydrophobic compounds can be incorporated in the most interior part of natural casein micelles where with the further pH change they can be encapsulated as nano-particles. Moreover, the EE was 92–97% depending on the measurement technique and oil content. Furthermore, the protective effect of casein micelle nanocapsules against UV showed a considerable difference on oxidative stability. Based on our findings, a novel approach was presented to utilize the natural casein micelles of fresh milk, while maintained their natural structure and functions, for nano-encapsulation and stabilization of the hydrophobic nutraceuticals which can be potentially used for enrichment and fortification of foodstuffs as well as pharmaceutics.

Current choices in omega 3 supplementation

Summary Our understanding of the significant role that long-chain fatty acids play in maintaining health and deterring the progression of disease is rapidly expanding. Much attention has been drawn to the benefits of increasing n-3 (omega-3) fatty acids in the diet, either through direct fortification of foodstuffs, or through supplementation. However, it is clear that there is some confusion among the general public as to the benefits of foods fortified with short-chain n-3 fatty acids compared with long-chain fatty acids and, indeed, over the role omega 3 fatty acids play in homeostasis. With the supplement market growing quickly and the general public seemingly increasingly ‘health-conscious’, emphasis should be focused upon educating the public more thoroughly about the biological roles that these fats play. Modern changes in our diet and the current general consensus that the UK is not an ‘oily fish-loving’ nation mean that many individuals run the risk of consuming insufficient amounts of the long-chain n-3 fatty acids for optimal function of the cardiovascular, immune and inflammatory systems. While supplementation is an easy way of modifying fatty acid intake, the quality of many cheaper products favoured by the public as the ‘value for money’ option are unlikely to offer the same health benefits as those that are molecularly distilled to exclude impurities and maximise concentrations of the active ingredients eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. This paper discusses the need for the public to be aware of the variation in the quality and dosage of n-3 supplements, delineates some of the vegetarian alternatives to fish-derived products and also discusses the potential role that General Practitioners may play in educating their patients about the possible long-term benefits of such products.

Megaloblastic Anaemia (MA)

Megaloblastic Anaemia (MA) is caused by retarded purine and pyrimidine (notably thymidylate) synthesis. Therefore DNA does not replicate, but RNA and protein (including haemoglobin) synthesis continues leading to typical cell changes, especially in rapidly dividing tissues such as the bone marrow, testicles, gastrointestinal and bronchial epithelia. Excepting some rare metabolic errors, MA is due to lack of or inability to absorb or to deliver to tissues and subcellular structures folate (FA) or cobalamin (Cbl or vitamin B12) or to produce enzymes which contain their coenzyme forms. Typical changes in the peripheral blood are pancytopenia, high MCV, MCH and red cell diameter (MCD) indexes and granulocytes with polylobulated nuclei. Low haemoglobin concentration is a late sign of deficiency. Specific treatment causes reticulocytosis and haematological remission, probably the most reliable diagnostic evidence for deficiency. In Cbl deficiency there is typical neurological damage; in children especially the brain is vulnerable. The mechanism causing MA (which does not occur in non-primates) is a disturbance in the regeneration of active tetrahydrofolate (THFA) needed for transfer of one-carbon units. Methyl-Cbl is a cofactor in the transfer of methyl from 5-methyl-THFA to homocysteine (Hcy), which becomes methionine. The latter is then converted to S-adenosylmethionine and used for methylation reactions. Serum-Hcy increases both in folate and Cbl deficiency. Deoxyadenosyl-Cbl (Ado-Cbl) is a mitochondrial coenzyme needed for the conversion of methylmalonyl-CoA to succinylCoA, then processed in the Krebs cycle. In Cbl deficiency, serum-methylmalonate (MMA) increases. Accordingly, Hcy and MMA are used to diagnose FA and Cbl deficiency. The mechanism causing the neurological damage in Cbl deficiency is not quite clear, MMA may damage the myelin sheaths. The traditional ways of diagnosing these deficiencies is to assay serum Cbl and FA and red cell FA (all mixtures of numerous compounds), then to investigate the cause of the deficiency by measuring radiovitamin-B12 absorption (especially the Schilling test), assaying intrinsic factor (IF) antibodies, performing gastric function tests, etc. During recent years, transcobalamin (TC or TCII) bound Cbl has become popular as the rest of the serum vitamin is bound to haptocorrin (HC, R-protein or TCI) and does not reflect the rapidly mobilizable body stores. At present there is no generally accepted gold standard test for diagnosing Cbl or FA deficiency, nor agreement on decision limits. The matter is complicated by the fact that based on the tests and therapeutic trials, large sectors of the population, especially the aged, have been considered to suffer from FA or Cbl deficiency, which may manifest itself as atherosclerosis, mental retardation, Parkinson’s disease, osteoporosis and infertility, maybe even problems with vision. In addition to low intake and gastric and pancreatic maldigestion, possible components in the causation of these conditions are slowly functioning genetic variants of enzymes and transport proteins involved in the metabolism of the vitamins. As lack of FA during pregnancy is known to cause neural tube defects, fortification of foodstuffs has been instituted, /a debatable practice, as FA tends to worsen the neurological damage in Cbl deficiency. Considering the very large sectors of the general population suspected to be deficient, the cost of the tests and their fallacies, one might consider prophylactic treatment of selected groups with FA and Cbl,

How effective was the Health Education Authority's folic acid campaign?

The Health Education Authority's campaign, encouraging the use of periconceptional folic acid in the prevention of neural tube defects, started in February 1996 and is ongoing. Its effectiveness was assessed using a questionnaire, answered by patients not exposed to the campaign and by those that were. The study population was comprised of 337 women in approximately their 20th week of pregnancy, attending antenatal clinic for a routine fetal anatomy ultrasound scan. Data were collected on aspects of folate awareness, intake and sources of advice, before and after the campaign's start. Significant increases in preconceptional and total folate consumption, awareness of folate's benefits, and GP prescription were seen as the study went on. Unplanned pregnancy prevented compliance with periconceptional folate guidelines. We conclude that whilst the promotional campaign seemed to work in York, fortification of foodstuffs may need to be used to increase folate consumption in those with unplanned pregnancy.

Use of microencapsulated fish oil as a means of increasing n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake

Summary Background: The successful incorporation of fish oil into foods may provide a means of increasing intakes of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 PUFA). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the bioavailability of n‐3 PUFA in microencapsulatd fish oil compared with a fish oil capsule. Methods: Twenty‐eight healthy volunteers were recruited to take part in this randomized controlled trial. Volunteers were supplemented with 0.9 g n‐3 PUFA daily for 4 weeks, delivered either as microencapsulated fish oil in a milkshake or as a fish oil capsule. Plasma fatty acid composition and plasma total cholesterol levels were measured at baseline and after supplementation. In addition, volunteers completed a questionnaire on fish consumption, use of supplements and exercise. Results: Responses to the questionnaire indicated that the males who took part in this study took more physical exercise, consumed less fish and were less likely than the females to take supplements. Plasma n‐3 PUFA concentrations were raised significantly and by a similar level by both fish oil supplements. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed in plasma n‐3 PUFA concentrations following supplementation with either form of fish oil. Plasma total cholesterol levels were not significantly altered by n‐3 PUFA supplementation in either group. The results of this study indicated that there was no difference in the bioavailability of n‐3 PUFA given as microencapsulated fish oil compared with n‐3 PUFA delivered as a fish oil capsule. Fortification of foodstuffs with microencapsulated fish oil therefore offers the potential to increase intakes of n‐3 PUFA in line with current recommendations.

Incorporation and secretion of 45Ca after per os application of 45Ca salts of phosphatidic acids.

The incorporation of calcium into bones, teeth and various organs, as well as the rate of its secretion from the organism of experimental rats was investigated using per os administration of 45Ca salts of phosphatidic acids present in a commercially available emulsifier. It was proved that the utilization of calcium from this preparation is satisfactory and up to a dose 1.2 g/kg of body weight is quite comparable with that of CaCl2. The emulsifier can be used as a supply of calcium for the fortification of foodstuffs.

Fortification of Foodstuffs

Fortification of Foodstuffs