Increased Nutrient Density Research Articles

Ammonia Recovery from Manure Wastewater Using Membrane Electrochemical Systems

Livestock systems face a challenging future with increasing conflict between food production and the environment. Many of the environmental issues stem from livestock manure as it can lose manure constituents, including nutrients, pathogens, and organic matter, to the environment, degrading both surface and ground water quality, contributing to climate change, causing nuisance odors, and creating human health issues. Processing manure to recover embedded nutrients such as ammonium nitrogen and phosphorus can mitigate these impacts by increasing nutrient density, making a more manageable fertilizer that has a greater economically feasible transport distance. Membrane electrochemical system (MES), which uses electrochemical reactions to transport ions through ion exchange membranes, has been considered as an effective technology for separating ammonium ions from ammonia-rich wastewater towards recovery. This study investigates the system performance of MES for ammonia recovery from various streams of livestock manure. We elucidate the pathways of organic nitrogen mineralization and how they can be improved to enhance ammonia recovery in MES. Additionally, we develop a mathematical model to systematically investigate the ion transport behaviors in MES. Our analysis shows that current density, membrane properties, and initial competing ion concentrations can intensively affect the selectivity of ammonium ion transport over other ions. The findings of this study advance our understanding of the key metrics affecting ammonia recovery from livestock manure using MES and can guide the development of more efficient and effective systems.

Watering Regimes Impact on Pakcoy Mustard Growth, Yield, and Nutrient Dynamics

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of watering volumes on the growth, yield, and nutrient dynamics in Pakcoy Mustard plants grown in East Java. Conducted from July to August 2022, the experiment used a randomized block design comprising three levels: 10 liters, 7 liters, and 4 liters of water, each with five replications. Our findings underscored a strong correlation between water quantity and crop yield. Specifically, the treatment with 4 liters of water resulted in the lowest yield due to suboptimal conditions involving significant water reduction and high nutrient concentration (ppm) coupled with low pH values, yielding a wet weight of 63,432 grams and dry weight of 1,698 grams. Conversely, the best crop yield was achieved with the 7-liter treatment, which facilitated optimum nutrient absorption (ppm) and pH levels, accounting for 85.3% of the variation, while 14.7% was attributable to external factors. The study unveiled a substantial effect of reduced watering on nutrient concentration, with lower water amounts leading to increased nutrient density and more acidic conditions due to decreased pH values. These findings underscore the criticality of balancing water volume and nutrient dynamics for optimizing pakcoy mustard yields and may have significant implications for home-based agriculture and water management practices.

Increasing dietary nutrient levels modulates colon immune adaptation and alleviates inflammation in the epithelial heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein I (Hnrnp I) knockout mice

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein I (HNRNP I) is an RNA-binding protein essential for neonatal immune adaptation by downregulating interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK1) in toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated NF-κB signaling pathways. TLR-mediated NF-κB is associated with chronic inflammation, including the development of inflammatory bowel diseases. Meanwhile, dietary protein intake is one of the major concerns for individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases. The present study aims to investigate the effects of a protein-enriched diet on intestinal inflammation and immune responses in a mouse model with aberrant NF-κB signaling in the colon. A transgenic mouse model with intestinal-epithelial-cell (IEC) specific Hnrnp I knocked out was used to investigate the effects of protein intake on the immune system in the colon. A control diet (CON) and a nutrient-dense modified diet (MOD) were fed to both the wild-type (WT) and the knockout (KO) male mice for 14 weeks. Inflammatory markers and colonic immune responses were examined, with gene expression and protein expression levels analyzed. IEC-specific Hnrnp I knocked out mice had significantly increased expression of the active NF-κB subunit, P65, in their colons. There was a concomitant induction of mRNA expression of Il1β, Il6, Cxcl1, and Ccl2. The number of CD4+ T cells in the distal colon was also increased in the KO mice. The results confirmed that KO mice had proinflammatory responses with aberrant NF-κB signaling in the colon. Importantly, increased nutrient density in their diets attenuated colon inflammation by decreasing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, reducing P65 translocation, downregulating IRAK1, and limiting the number of CD4+ T cells recruited in Hnrnp I KO mice colon. In summary, this study found that a diet with increased nutrient density relieved the inflammation induced by knockout of Hnrnp I, attributable partially to the reduced expression of inflammatory and immune-modulating cytokines in the mouse distal colon.

Time in Bed, Sleeping Difficulties, and Nutrition in Pregnant New Zealand Women.

We consider the relationship between time in bed (TIB) and sleeping difficulties with demographic variables and nutrient intakes in the second (T2) and third (T3) trimester of pregnancy. Data were acquired from a volunteer sample of New Zealand pregnant women. In T2 and T3, questionnaires were administered, diets were obtained from one 24 h recall and three weighed food records, and physical activity was measured with the use of three 24 h diaries. In total, 370 women had complete information in T2 and 310 in T3. In both trimesters, TIB was associated with welfare or disability status, marital status and age. In T2, TIB was associated with work, childcare, education and pre-pregnancy alcohol consumption. There were fewer significant lifestyle covariates in T3. In both trimesters, TIB declined with increasing dietary intake, especially water, protein, biotin, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and manganese. Adjusted for weight of dietary intake and welfare/disability, TIB declined with increasing nutrient density of B vitamins, saturated fats, potassium, fructose and lactose; and TIB increased with carbohydrate, sucrose and vitamin E. Subjective sleeping difficulties increased with the week of gestation, morning sickness severity, anxiety, dairy and saturated fat intake, and they decreased with fruit, vegetable and monounsaturated fat intake. The study highlights the changing influence of covariates throughout the pregnancy and corroborates several published findings on the relationship of diet and sleep.

Bioavailability of Nutrients in a Fonio (Digitaria exilis) Ricebean (Vigna umbellata) Based Complementary Food

Purpose: This study was carried out to assess the bioavailability of nutrients in a fonio/ricebean based complementary food.
 Methodology: Treated fonio (Digitaria exilis)/sprouted (72h) ricebean (Vigna umbellata) composite were processed into four complementary diets. FNBN-70:30:30:30(Fonio: ricebean: dried carrot: crayfish). A similar blend containing in addition 20g of milk (FNBP), a third blend that contained unsprouted and undehulled ricebean (FNBU) and the fourth that contained only fonio and ricebean (FNBM) were also formulated. These were analyzed for antinutrients, phytochemicals and viscosity using standard methods.
 Findings: There were slight variations in the trypsin inhibitor (1.16-1.78 Tiu/g), phytic (0.12-0.17%) and tannic acid (0.048-0.067%) contents of the samples. Cooking, soaking, sprouting and dehulling might have accounted for the observed low values of these antinutrients suggesting high bioavailability of the nutrients in the diets. The residual phytochemicals were equally low with sample FNBU having the highest values (alkaloid – 028%, flavonoid – 0.35%) and saponin 0.53%) among the samples which can be attributed to the non-sprouting and non-dehulling of the ricebean. The formulated diets showed low viscosities ranging from 84.21-85.77cP due probably to the thinning effect of amylases activated during sprouting. Decreased viscosity indicated increased nutrient density. The results showed high availability of the nutrients and low bulk/high nutrient density of the diets which showed suitability of the diets to argument nutrient and energy intake in children.
 Recommendation: Fonio/ricebean complementary food should substitute commercial complementary food

Evidence-based Discharge Nutrition to Optimize Preterm Infant Outcomes.

Despite abundant research comparing postdischarge hospital diets for preterm infants, the ideal clinical approach has not been determined. Dilemmas persist because randomized controlled trials of preterm versus term infant formula have yielded equivocal results and because the predominant postdischarge diet for preterm infants has shifted from formula-based to a combination that includes maternal milk and increasingly includes a plan for breastfeeding. As the investigation of the influence of the post-hospital discharge diet on preterm infant outcomes evolves, factors to consider include the infant's oral feeding ability and the maternal lactation goal. The maturation of the preterm infant's oral feeding skills may at least partially explain why increased nutrient density appears to most benefit growth outcomes when given during the first 3 to 4 months after hospital discharge. At some point in maturation, the preterm infant may develop the ability to vary intake as needed to obtain sufficient nutrition no matter the density of the diet. In addition, attention to the maternal lactation goal is critical as intake of maternal milk likely influences neurodevelopmental outcomes as much or even to a greater extent than growth trajectory.

Processing Human Milk to Increase Nutrient Density for Preterm Infants.

Human milk is the optimal food for newborns. Choices to feed preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units are mother's milk, donor milk, or formula. Preterm infants have better tolerance for human milk, but the lower caloric density of donor milk might not meet preterm infant growth needs. Preterm infants have higher protein and energy requirements with a limited stomach capacity. Therefore, there is a need for human milk with increased nutrient density. To concentrate donor milk to have a higher caloric and protein density while avoiding side effects of high osmolality by precipitating lactose at low temperatures. We investigated the results of volume reduction and lactose removal processes on the lactose, protein, osmolality, and viscosity of human milk. Donor milk was obtained from WakeMed Mothers' Milk Bank. Homogenization and evaporative condensation were applied to samples (N = 36) before they were stored frozen overnight, followed by refrigerated centrifugation for lactose removal at 0 °C. Supernatants were separated and compared to the composition of controls. A significant reduction of lactose (SW = -262, p < .0001) and osmolality (SW = -211.5 p < .01) was achieved in the concentrated milk without a significant protein loss from centrifugation (SW = -44.5, p = .49). A 30%-40% volume reduction is within the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended osmolality for infant feeding. Concentrating human milk in a milk bank setting for feeding preterm infants might be a simple and low-cost process to achieve a product with higher nutrient density and no non-human components.

Effects of phytase supplementation and increased nutrient density on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and hypothalamic appetitive hormone expression and catecholamine concentrations in broilers from 1 to 43 days of age

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate extra-phosphoric effects of phytase and nutrient density on growth performance, meat yield, and hypothalamic appetitive hormone expression and catecholamine concentrations of broilers. Experiment 1 determined differences of digestible amino acid concentrations and AMEn using 256 Yield Plus × Ross 708 broilers (32 cages, 8 birds/cage) fed diets without or with 4,500 phytase units (FTU)/kg inclusion (16 reps/treatment). In Experiment 2, 832 Yield Plus × Ross 708 broilers (32 pens; 26 birds/pen) were provided diets in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement consisting of 2 nutrient contents (without or with increased density) and 2 phytase inclusions (0 or 4,500 FTU/kg). Increased nutrient density was formulated to contain 0.007, 0.015, 0.013, 0.021, 0.024%, and 61 kcal/kg higher digestible SAA, Lys, Thr, Val, Ile, and AMEn (from Experiment 1) respectively, compared with the control diet. Growth performance was determined at 14, 28, and 40 d of age and carcass characteristics at 41 d of age. At 43 d of age, plasma inositol, hypothalamic appetitive hormone expression, and catecholamine concentrations were determined from 4 birds/pen. Additive effects of phytase inclusion and increased nutrient density resulted in the lowest (P < 0.05) feed conversion from 1 to 40 d of age and the heaviest (P < 0.01) breast meat weights among dietary treatments. Phytase addition numerically increased feed intake (P = 0.06) and BW gain (P = 0.051) compared with birds fed diets without phytase from 1 to 40 d of age. Plasma inositol and dopamine concentrations were 2.3- and 1.2-fold higher (P < 0.01), respectively, in broilers fed phytase-added diets than birds fed diets without phytase inclusion. However, mRNA expression of neuropeptide Y, agouti-related peptide, proopiomelanocortin, cholecystokinin A receptor, ghrelin, and serotonin concentration were not different (P > 0.05) among treatments. These data indicated additive effects of phytase supplementation and increased nutrient density on growth performance and meat accretion of broilers. However, the influence of phytase on feed intake warrants future research.

Swallowing and Liking of Vegetable-Enriched Bread Compared With Commercial Breads as Evaluated by Older Adults.

Characteristics of food that influence liking and ease-of-chewing and swallowing are not well-understood. Reformulation of bread to improve nutrient density may improve liking, ease-of-chewing and swallowing which could improve dietary intake particularly with aging. The study aimed to compare objectively and subjectively four breads of increasing nutrient density: $1 white (WB) and wheatmeal (WMB) commercial breads and two in-house formulations of vegetable-enriched breads (VB75 or VB100) which incorporated drum-dried pumpkin and sweet corn flours for physical, sensory and ease-of-chewing and swallowing properties. Each bread underwent instrumental texture analysis. The commercial and vegetable-enriched breads were not different by hardness or springiness but the vegetable breads were up to 25% less cohesive, less gummy and less chewy than the commercial breads. Questionnaires and Likert scale (150 mm) responses were completed by 50 physically active volunteers aged 50+ years. Overall liking of the VB75 and VB100 was rated 40% higher than the white and wheatmeal breads. Vegetable-enriched breads were rated as almost 50% easier to chew (mean ± SD; WB 70.53 ± 39.46 mm, WMB 77.68 ± 33.13 mm, VB75 104.78 ± 30.69 mm, VB100 107.58 ± 24.90 mm) and swallow (WB 70.29 ± 37.98 mm, WMB 77.53 ± 34.88 mm, VB75 104.63 ± 28.25 mm, VB100 104.90 ± 25.54 mm). Vegetable-enriched breads compared to white and wheatmeal breads were instrumentally and subjectively less gummy, cohesive and chewy than commercial breads and have the potential to both improve nutrition and “ease of swallowing” in older people. New areas of research should explore other underutilized vegetables for bread enrichment and their ability to aid swallowing and improve nutrition status.

Improvement in broiler performance by feeding a nutrient-dense diet after a mild feed restriction

Background: The use of early nutrient-restriction programs in broilers can prevent complications such as increased body fat deposition and its consequences. However, feed restriction not always gives the expected results. Objective: To assess the effect of two levels of feed restriction followed by a re-alimentation period with five increasing nutrient levels on growth performance and immune response of broiler chickens. Methods: A total of 330 animals were used. The treatments were: 25 (T25) and 35% (T35) quantitative feed restriction during the starting period, and 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, and 15% increased energy and protein contents during the growing and finishing periods. Results: For all the T25 treatments, except for T25-0, feed intake (FI) and body weight gain (BWG) were higher, and feed conversion rate (FCR) was lower (p&lt;0.05) compared to the control treatment. In that group, the response of FI and BWG to the increased nutrient density was mostly quadratic (p&lt;0.001), whereas that of FCR was linear (p&lt;0.001). The FI and BWG results were less homogeneous in the T35 treatments, but FCR was lower compared to the control treatment (p&lt;0.05) in all of them. The FCR showed no differences (p&gt;0.05) between treatments during the finishing period. Conclusion: Feeding a nutrient-dense diet after a period of mild feed restriction gives the best results, while increasing nutrient density after a more severe feed restriction does not improve productive results compared to a standard diet. Carcass traits and immune function were not affected by restriction level or nutrient density.

Facilitating the acceptance of tangibly reduced-crude protein diets for chicken-meat production.

Inclusions of non-bound amino acids particularly methionine, lysine and threonine, together with the “ideal protein” concept have allowed nutritionists to formulate broiler diets with reduced crude protein (CP) and increased nutrient density of notionally “essential” amino acids and energy content in recent decades. However, chicken-meat production has been projected to double between now and 2050, providing incentives to reduce dietary soybean meal inclusions further by tangibly reducing dietary CP and utilising a larger array of non-bound amino acids. Whilst relatively conservative decreases in dietary CP, in the order of 20 to 30 g/kg, do not negatively impact broiler performance, further decreases in CP typically compromise broiler performance with associated increases in carcass lipid deposition. Increases in carcass lipid deposition suggest changes occur in dietary energy balance, the mechanisms of which are still not fully understood but discourage the acceptance of diets with reductions in CP. Nevertheless, the groundwork has been laid to investigate both amino acid and non-amino acid limitations and propose facilitative strategies for adoption of tangible dietary CP reductions; consequently, these aspects are considered in detail in this review. Unsurprisingly, investigations into reduced dietary CP are epitomised by variability broiler performance due to the wide range of dietary specifications used and the many variables that should, or could, be considered in formulation of experimental diets. Thus, a holistic approach encompassing many factors influencing limitations to the adoption of tangibly reduced CP diets must be considered if they are to be successful in maintaining broiler performance without increasing carcass lipid deposition.

Calcium affects sternal mass by effects on osteoclast differentiation and function in meat ducks fed low nutrient density diets

Genetic progress and increasing nutrient density for greater body mass and meat yield in poultry has inadvertently led to an imbalance between pectorales mass and sternal development which may or may not be detrimental to productivity and welfare. Slowing weight gain while promoting bone mineralization could positively influence sternal health. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of graded calcium (Ca) supplementation in low nutrient density (LND) diets on sternal mass and bone turnover in meat ducks. Male meat ducks (720, 15-day-old) were randomly assigned and fed a standard nutrient density positive control (PC) diet, and 4 LND diets with 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, and 1.1% Ca, respectively. Metabolic energy (ME) was reduced in the LND by 9.5 and 16.3% at 15-35 D and 36-56 D compared to PC diet, respectively, while maintaining proportionate essential nutrient proportions to energy similar as in the PC diet. Although the 0.9% Ca LND diet decreased body weight and sternal dimension, it increased the relative sternum weight, the trabecular bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV) and Ca content of the sternum compared with PC diet. Feeding 0.7% or more Ca with the LND diet significantly increased the mineral content, bone density, BV/TV, and trabecular number of the sternum for 49-days-old ducks. Furthermore, the LND diet with 0.7% or more Ca-increased osteocyte-specific gene mRNA and osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression, and it blocked the expression of cathepsin K and decreased osteoclasts number per bone surface. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining also revealed that the addition 0.7% or more Ca to the LND diet significantly decreased the number of osteoclasts compared with the 0.5% Ca LND diet. Meanwhile TRAP activity in serum was significantly decreased in 0.7% or more Ca-treated groups. We concluded that LND diet with 0.7% or more Ca may maintain optimal sternal mass through suppressing bone resorption for meat duck.

Effect of graded calcium supplementation in low-nutrient density feed on tibia composition and bone turnover in meat ducks.

Both genetic selection and increasing nutrient density for improving growth performance had inadvertently increased leg problems of meat ducks, which adversely affects animal welfare. We hypothesised that slowing weight gain with improving tibia quality probably enhanced tibial mechanical properties and alleviated leg deformities. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of graded Ca supplementation in a low-nutrient density (LND) diet on tibia composition and bone turnover in meat ducks. A total of 720 15-d-old male meat ducks were randomly assigned and fed a standard nutrient density positive control (PC) diet containing 0·9 % Ca, and four LND diets with 0·5, 0·7, 0·9 and 1·1 % Ca, respectively. Ducks fed the 0·5 % Ca LND diet and the PC diet had higher incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia (TD). When compared with the 0·5 % Ca LND diet, LND diets with ≥0·7 % Ca significantly improved tibia composition, microarchitecture and mechanical properties, and consequently decreased the incidence of TD. Furthermore, LND diets with ≥0·7 % Ca increased osteocyte-specific gene mRNA expression, blocked the expression of osteoblast differentiation marker genes including osteocalcin, collagenase-1 and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and also decreased the expression of osteoclast differentiation genes, such as vacuolar-type H+-ATPase, cathepsin K and receptor activator of NF-κB. Meanwhile bone markers such as serum ALP, osteocalcin (both osteoblast markers) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (an osteoclast marker) were significantly decreased in at least 0·7 % Ca treated groups. These findings indicated that LND diets with ≥0·7 % Ca decreased bone turnover, which subsequently increased tibia quality for 35-d-old meat ducks.

The interactive influence of dietary nutrient density and feed form on the performance of broiler chickens

The present study investigates the interactions between dietary nutrient density and feed form on the growth performance, coefficient of apparent ileal digestibility (CAID) of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), starch, fat, calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P), and N-corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AMEn) in broiler chickens to 21d post-hatch. Maize-soybean meal diets with five tiers of nutrient density were formulated and mixed. The diets were then divided into two equal batches; the first batch was offered as unprocessed mash and the second batch was steam-pelleted at a conditioning temperature of 75 °C. A 5 × 2 factorial array of ten dietary treatments were offered to a total of 480, day-old male broiler (Ross 308) chicks accommodated in 60 cages (eight birds per cage). Significant (P < 0.001) interactions between nutrient density and feed form were observed for weight gain, feed intake and feed per unit gain. While birds fed pelleted diets outperformed those fed mash diets at each nutrient density level, the pellet-associated benefits were more pronounced at the lowest nutrient density. Increasing nutrient density increased (P < 0.001) N digestibility from 0.772 to 0.811, but decreased (P < 0.001) that of starch from 0.969 in very low density diets to 0.943 in very high density diets. No significant (P > 0.05) effect of nutrient density on the CAID of DM and fat was found. Feeding pelleted diets, regardless of nutrient density, reduced (P < 0.001) the CAID of DM, N, starch and fat. Significant nutrient density × feed form interactions were observed for the CAID of Ca (P < 0.001) and P (P < 0.01). Pelleting enhanced (P < 0.05) the CAID of Ca and P in the diet with lowest nutrient density but reduced (P < 0.05) the digestibility of these minerals in all other nutrient density diets. Increasing dietary nutrient density progressively increased the AMEn, but feeding of pelleted diets, regardless of nutrient density, reduced (P < 0.001) the AMEn. Overall, the present data showed that the magnitude of pelleting-induced benefits on broiler performance varied depending on dietary nutrient density, with responses to pelleting decreasing with increasing dietary nutrient density. The present study highlights that dietary nutrient density must be taken into consideration if the full benefits associated with feeding pelleted diets are to be achieved.

Is nutritional quality of food-at-home purchases improving? 1969-2010: 40 years of household consumption surveys in France.

The rise of nutrition-related diseases in developed countries prompts investigation into the role played by changing food patterns. Our aim was to observe changes in food-at-home purchases by French households and their impacts on nutritional quality over the past 40 years (1969-2010). Time-series of food-at-home purchases from representative samples of French households were built based on two sources of data: the INSEE National Food Survey (1969-1991) and the Kantar Food Consumption Panel (1989-2010). Food-at-home purchases were converted into energy and nutrients using the French CIQUAL food composition table. The nutritional quality of food-at-home purchases was estimated using the mean adequacy ratio (MAR) for 15 key nutrients. MAR was expressed per 2000 kcal to assess the nutrient density of food-at-home purchases. Between 1969 and 2010, food-at-home purchases showed dramatic changes in many food groups, with increasing processed vs raw products. The purchase of calories increased (+6.7%) and nutrient density improved (MAR per 2000 kcal + 12.9 points). However, this overall trend harbors heterogeneous patterns: food-at-home calories decreased and nutrient density improved up to 2002, but then calories increased while nutrient density stabilized. The nutritional quality of French households' food-at-home purchases improved over the last 40 years, as shown by increasing nutrient density. However, during the last decade, nutrient density ceased to increase and the purchase of calories increased, advocating a need for public action to promote healthier food purchasing patterns.

Energy Intake and Energy Expenditure for Determining Excess Weight Gain in Pregnant Women.

To conduct a secondary analysis designed to test whether gestational weight gain is the result of increased energy intake or adaptive changes in energy expenditures. In this secondary analysis, energy intake and energy expenditure of 45 pregnant women (body mass index [BMI] 18.5-24.9 [n=33] and BMI 25 or greater [n=12]) were measured preconceptionally and at 22 and 36 weeks of gestation. Energy intake was calculated as the sum of total energy expenditure measured by doubly-labeled water and energy deposition determined by the four-compartment body composition model. Measurements of weight, body composition, and basal metabolic rate were completed preconceptionally and 9, 22, and 36 weeks of gestation. Basal metabolic rate was measured by indirect calorimetry in a room calorimeter and activity energy expenditure by doubly-labeled water. Energy intake from 22 to 36 weeks of gestation was significantly higher in high gainers (n=19) (3,437±99 kcal per day) compared with low+ideal gainers (n=26) (2,687±110, P<.001) within both BMI categories. Basal metabolic rate increased in proportion to gestational weight gain; however, basal metabolic rate adjusted for body composition changes with gestational weight gain was not significantly different between high gainers and low+ideal gainers (151±33 compared with 129±36 kcal per day; P=.66). Activity energy expenditure decreased throughout pregnancy in both groups (low+ideal gainers: -150±70 kcal per day; P=.04 and high gainers: -230±92 kcal per day; P=.01), but there was no difference between high gainers and low+ideal gainers (P=.49). Interventions designed to increase adherence to the Institute of Medicine guidelines for weight gain in pregnancy may have increased efficacy if focused on limiting energy intake while increasing nutrient density and maintaining levels of physical activity.

1. Insects – A Natural Nutrient Source for Poultry – A Review

Abstract The consumption of poultry meat and eggs is expected to increase considerably in the nearest future, which creates the demand for new poultry feed ingredients in order to support sustainable intensive production. Moreover, the constant improvement of the genetic potential of poultry has resulted in an increased nutrient density in poultry feeds, which limits the possibility to include low quality feed ingredients. Therefore, the feed industry needs new sources of highly digestible protein with a desirable amino acid composition to substitute other valuable but limited protein sources of animal origin, such as fishmeal. With estimated 1.5 to 3 million species, the class of insects harbours the largest species variety in the world including species providing a high protein and sulphur amino acids content, which can be successfully exploited as feed for poultry. The aim of this paper is to review the present state of knowledge concerning the use of insect protein in poultry nutrition and the possibilities of mass production of insects for the feed industry. There is no doubt that insects have an enormous potential as a source of nutrients (protein) and active substances (polyunsaturated fatty acids, antimicrobial peptides) for poultry. It can be concluded, based on many experimental results, that meals from insects being members of the orders Diptera (black soldier fly, housefly), Coleoptera (mealworms) and Orthoptera (grasshoppers, locust, crickets and katylids), may be successfully used as feed material in poultry diets. However, legislation barriers in the European Union, as well as relatively high costs and limited quantity of produced insects are restrictions in the large-scale use of insect meals in poultry nutrition.

Hyperinsulinemia: Best management practice

Chronic hyperinsulinemia associated with insulin resistance is directly and indirectly associated with many metabolic disorders that contribute to significant morbidity and mortality. Because hyperinsulinemia is not widely recognised as an independent health risk, there are few studies that assess management strategies. Medication management may not address the multiple issues associated with hyperinsulinemia. Lifestyle management includes physical activity, especially high intensity interval training, and dietary management. Reducing carbohydrate quantity and increasing nutrient density are discussed with carbohydrate-restricted and Mediterranean diets conferring additional benefits to a low-fat diet. Physical activity and dietary management provide the foundation for hyperinsulinemia management and may work synergistically. Of these principles, a combination of resistance and high intensity interval training, and carbohydrate restriction provide the two most effective frontline management strategies for managing hyperinsulinemia.

Performance and economic evaluation of feeding programs varying in energy and protein densities for broiler grillers

A study was conducted to evaluate field performance and economic impacts of feeding diets varying in AME and amino acid (AA) densities to Cobb 500 female broiler grillers (eviscerated carcass averaging 1.0 kg). Corn–soy diets were fed to birds in a factorial arrangement of 3 AME (low, moderate, and high) by 3 AA densities (low, moderate, and high). Differences in AA and AME average values were of 10 and 1.5%, respectively. Treatments had 8 replications of 40 birds allocated in floor pens. Live performance was significantly improved in parallel with increases in AME and AA; however, carcass yield increased and abdominal fat was reduced only when AA was increased (P < 0.05). Gross margins (GM) for each treatment were calculated using scenarios of high and low market costs for corn, soybean meal, as well as for carcass prices. Costs were classified as variable [costs of feeding (CF), fixed farm costs (FFC), and fixed processing costs (FPC)] and their behavior in response to nutritional density was studied. All cost components, (CF, FFC, and FPC) decreased as AME increased, which resulted in the lowest total costs (TC) for the highest AME diets in all scenarios tested, as well as the greatest GM for those dietary programs. In contrast to AME, cost components moved in opposite directions in response to AA density whereby, in 4 out of 7 scenarios, optimizing CF did not result in greater GM. The present study was conducted with low-weight carcasses and, therefore, conclusions made from the presented data are restricted to this type of product. It is concluded that when broiler grillers are objects of study, the use of CF as the sole criteria to choose an optimal feeding program, without considering significant fixed costs present along the production and meat processing chains, tends to underestimate the economic potential of increasing nutrient density.

Impact of genotype and cooking style on the content, retention, and bioacessibility of β-carotene in biofortified cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) conventionally bred in Brazil.

Biofortification is a strategy for decreasing micronutrient deficiencies in vulnerable populations by increasing nutrient density in staple food crops. Roots from five varieties of cassava biofortified with β-carotene (βC), three parental accessions, and one variety of commonly consumed white cassava from Brazil were investigated. Roots from biofortified varieties contained up to 23-fold higher βC than white cassava, and the additional complement of βC was primarily the all-trans isomer. At least 68% of βC per gram fresh weight was retained after boiling or boiling and briefly frying. Micellarization of βC during simulated digestion of fried root exceeded that of boiled root. Apical uptake of all-trans-βC from mixed micelles by Caco-2 cells was affected by an interaction between variety and cooking style. These results suggest that Brazilian cassava biofortified with βC has the potential to reduce vitamin A deficiency without requiring major changes in local and ethnic styles of home cooking.