Dietary Nutrition Research Articles

A Qualitative Study on Nutritional Awareness Among Parents of Pediatric Recipients of Liver or Kidney Transplants.

The primary aim of this study was to examine the extent of nutritional awareness concerning dietary requisites within a cohort comprising pediatric recipients of liver and kidney transplants, along with their respective caregivers. The overarching goal was to establish a foundation for enhancing the dietary nutrition of this specific population. This was a qualitative research study, involving in-depth interviews and subsequent qualitative data analysis. Our sample included pediatric patients in a specific age range who had undergone a liver or kidney transplant, as well as their parents. The data analysis technique we used was content analysis. The survey focused on knowledge of dietary requirements and restrictions, nutritional needs, and adherence to daily dietary requirements among pediatric patients and their respective caregivers. Approximately 30% of the parents lacked relevant nutritional awareness, 30% relied on a single source for acquiring nutritional knowledge, and 40% expressed a considerable need for nutritional guidance. Our findings revealed a deficiency in the understanding of nutritional and dietary requirements for children who have undergone a liver or kidney transplant. Their nutrient intake was unbalanced, and their dietary habits were irregular, highlighting the need for better nutritional guidance and monitoring. The nutritional awareness and knowledge of dietary requirements among pediatric liver and kidney transplant recipients and their care providers are inadequate. Medical professionals are urged to tackle this concern by imparting comprehensive education to parents regarding the nutritional prerequisites essential for their children post-transplant. This approach empowers parents to implement requisite dietary modifications effectively. Furthermore, healthcare institutions should augment the nutritional proficiency of their medical staff through meticulously structured training initiatives.

Пребиотик лактулоза в питании детей первого года жизни

Aim. To evaluate the effect of the lactulose prebiotic on the functional state of the gastrointestinal tract and the state of the intestinal microbiome of infants with constipation based on data from Russian and foreign publications. Key points. The multiple positive effects of breastfeeding on the health of mother and child are unique. However, more than 50% of children in the Russian Federation are artificially fed, and the choice of formula for artificial feeding is fundamental and determines the further state of the baby's health. The review describes on the role of the development of the intestinal microbiota in the child's health, examines the origin and functioning of the “brain — intestine — microbiota” axis, its role in the genesis of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) in children — the most common FGID in infants — functional constipation. The article discusses the use of lactulose in the dietary nutrition of infants, primarily with functional constipation. Conclusion. The multilevel action of prebiotic lactulose allows it use it for a significant number of therapeutic indications. Lactulose-enriched formulas for the nutrition of children of the first year of life is justified. The article The article contains the Russian and foreign experience of using lactulose-enriched formulas in the nutrition of children of the first year of life. Кeywords: children, lactulose, formulas, functional constipation.

Influencing Factors on Cardiovascular Health in China.

The Annual Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China (2022) intricate landscape of cardiovascular health in China. This is the first section of the report, which dissects influential factors across diverse domains. The investigation identifies tobacco use as a paramount concern, portraying China as the global epicenter of tobacco consumption. Cigarette smoking, exacerbated by second-hand smoke exposure, emerges as a critical and preventable risk factor, contributing to a surge in attributable deaths over the past three decades. In the realm of dietary nutrition, the study discerns an overall improvement, yet discerns worrisome deviations, notably an escalating fat intake surpassing recommended guidelines. The shifting dietary structure reveals diminished consumption of cereals and vegetables juxtaposed with an uptick in animal foods, while excessive intake of cooking oil and salt persists, straying substantially from endorsed levels. The exploration of physical activity patterns unfolds a nuanced narrative. Varied trends are observed among students, with concerns arising from sedentary behaviors and inadequate adherence to recommended guidelines. The analysis spans a trajectory of declining physical activity in Chinese adults, coupled with an alarming surge in sedentary leisure time, ultimately linking these factors to heightened risks of cardiovascular diseases and increased adiposity. An examination of overweight and obesity trends uncovers a relentless upward trajectory, projecting substantial prevalence by 2030. Noteworthy prevalence rates underscore the imperative for targeted interventions to curtail this burgeoning health crisis, with the anticipated prevalence extending to nearly two-thirds of the adult population. Psychological factors, notably depression, constitute an integral facet of cardiovascular health. Prevalence rates among patients with coronary artery disease and acute myocardial infarction underscore the intricate interplay between mental health and cardiovascular outcomes. Additionally, persistent depressive symptoms are shown to significantly elevate the risk of cardiovascular diseases and mortality. This first section underscores the multifaceted challenges facing cardiovascular health in China, emphasizing the imperative for tailored interventions across tobacco control, dietary habits, physical activity, obesity management, and psychological well-being to mitigate the escalating burden of cardiovascular diseases in the population.

Enhancing nutritional value of banana peels as animal feed pellet using subcritical water technology

Banana peels serve as a valuable fiber source with considerable potential for formulation of animal feed. Although it has high fibre content, lignocellulosic fibres caused low digestibility for ruminants and susceptibility of banana peels to spoilage imposes limitations on their utilization. This study highlights the use of subcritical water technology as a pretreatment to enhance nutritional value of banana peels and prolong their shelf life as ingredients in ruminant feed pellet. The proximate analysis of treated banana peels (SCW-BP) contains 6.9 ± 0.07% of crude fat, 47.3 ± 0.06% of crude fibre and 10.6 ± 0.07% crude protein. In order to produce balanced nutritional diet for ruminant feed, 54% of SCW-BP was mixed with 46% of sorghum to attain 15% of crude protein by using Pearson square method. Thus, the formulated feed ingredients produced meets the nutrient required by the ruminants.

Economic Importance of Backyard Poultry in Taluka Jhando Mari, District Tando Allahyar, Sindh

Present study was carried out to observe the economic importance of backyard poultry birds in rural areas of Taluka Jhando Mari district Tando Allahyar during the 2022. Objective: To determine the profitability of backyard poultry production in rural areas of Tando Allahyar. Methods: Our study was divided into two different parts (i) primary and (ii) secondary part. Primary category was based on collection of data by interview from respondents by filling questionnaire. Results: The results revealed that 70% of household poultry kept by female and 30% were males. The cost function was estimated using the OLS method. The model of study suggested that price of egg and price of per bird were recorded statistically significant whereas per bird cost was observed non-significant statistically. It was concluded that high egg producing poultry breeds such RIR, Playmouth, White leghorn must be raised in order to increase the production of household backyard poultry birds. Conclusions: It is also concluded that improvement in rural poultry germplasm will be highly effective in rural poultry production system in future and will be major business for completing the food security and nutritional diet in middle class population of our country. Government of Sindh should also encourage private sector poultry by providing loan and poultry feed on cheapest prices to improve the production of backyard poultry farmers and their livelihood.

Determinants of nutritional outcome among beneficiaries of Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre

Background: Under Mission Balam Sukham, children of 6 months to 5 years having severe acute malnutrition (SAM) along with complications are managed at Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre (NRC). They are admitted for 14 days with the provision of a nutritional diet and medicines. Objectives: To explore determinants of nutritional outcome of SAM children admitted at NRC Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted comprising 63 children aged 6 months to 5 years having SAM along with complications admitted at NRC of New Civil Hospital, Surat (NCHS) for 10 months. Results: The majority of participants were boys (54%), 12-23 months of age (50.8%), and Grade III socioeconomic class (39.6%). The duration of stay ranged from 2-36 days. The average duration of stay was 12.78 + 6.49 days; 14.26 ± 5.99 days for boys and 11.10 + 6.73 for girls. 18.8% stayed at NRC for 14 days. The average weight gain was 5.46 g/kg/day. A significant improvement in weight was seen in boys (t=2.20, p<0.05), working mothers (t=2.44, p<0.01), exclusively breastfed children (t=3.62, p<0.01) of 6-11 months, full-term children of 12-23 months (t=4.0, p<0.05). The children of 12-23 months (t=2.90, p<0.01) and boys (t=2.15, p<0.05) showed significant improvement in underweight (WAZ). Wasting improved significantly in age below 36 months (p<0.05). 20.6% could achieve the target weight. Conclusion: NRC is an effective life-saving modality for malnutrition but its outcome is associated with factors like boys, exclusive breastfeeding, and full-term.

Exploration of the Association Between Sleep Quality and Dietary Nutrition in Adolescents/Research Advances

Nowadays, there are many problems in the dietary nutrition of teenagers, such as unbalanced intake of nutrition, unbalanced diet types, a lack of dietary knowledge, and unreasonable eating habits. At the same time, the problem of the sleep quality of teenagers is becoming more and more serious, so the preliminary judgment is that there is a certain relationship between dietary nutrition and the sleep quality of teenagers, and a specific analysis is carried out. After consulting the research results and data at home and abroad, this paper analyzed and discussed the relationship between dietary nutrition and the sleep quality of adolescents and clarified the influence on sleep quality from the aspects of eating pattern, eating behavior, nutrient composition, and intake frequency, as well as the direct or indirect influence of supplementing macronutrients and micronutrients on sleep. It also analyzes and discusses how to supplement dietary nutrition and improve teenagers' sleep problems, and puts forward solutions based on dietary problems to solve specific problems, supplement dietary nutrition intake, and rationally plan teenagers' eating ways.

Association of dietary intake and nutrition knowledge with diabetes self-management behavior among Bangladeshi type 2 diabetes mellitus adults: A multi-center cross-sectional study

Diabetes self-management behavior is important for patients to lessen disease-related complications, obtain optimum glycemic control and achieve a better quality of life. The study aimed to determine the relationship between dietary intake, nutrition knowledge, and self-management behaviors in Bangladeshi patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with a focus on achieving optimal glycemic control, improving their quality of life. A cross-sectional study was conducted among T2DM patients from seven districts throughout Bangladesh. Data were collected using a validated semi-structured questionnaire for evaluating diabetes-related self-management behavior and existing nutrition knowledge. Dietary intakes were obtained using 24 h 3-days diet recall. Logistic regression analysis, Pearson's correlation and independent t-test were used to observe correlation and association among variables. A total of 411 patients with T2DM participated in the study, 59.4 % of patients achieved good dietary control, while 14.4 % were physically active, 49.4 % adhered well to medication, 44.0 % practiced effective self-monitoring, and 27.0 % possessed good diabetic nutrition knowledge. In fully adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis, patients with a better glycemic control showed 14 times more control in their dietary intake [AOR: 14.21; 95 % CI: 5.62–35.94], and performing a good physical exercise 5 times more than the patients with high blood glucose level [AOR: 5.671; 95 % CI: 1.55–20.686]. Adherence toward medication prescription was also significantly higher among these patients. Glucose level was significantly higher among patients who had moderate [AOR: 3.367; 95 % CI: 1.29–8.73] and poor [AOR: 9.87; 95 % CI: 3.19–30.57] diabetes related nutritional knowledge. Patients with poor glycemic control consumed significantly more carbohydrates (251 ± 62 g vs 213 ± 47 g) and less dietary fiber (16.7 ± 4.5 g vs 20.5 ± 6.1 g) compared to the patients with optimum glycemic control. Our study findings suggest that, an improved level of nutrition knowledge may be beneficial to ensure optimum dietary intake, thus aid in an effective diabetes self-management behavior among Bangladeshi T2DM patients. Efforts should be made to help patient achieve optimum glycemic control, thus reduce their health-related complications and contribute to overall well-being.

Strong Sex-Dependent Effects of Malnutrition on Life- and Healthspan in Drosophila melanogaster.

Insufficient intake of essential nutrients, malnutrition is a major issue for millions of people and has a strong impact on the distribution and abundance of species in nature. In this study, we investigated the effect of malnutrition on several fitness components in the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster. Four diets with different nutritional values, including three diluted diets of an optimal nutritional balanced diet, were used as feed sources. The effect of malnutrition on fitness components linked to healthspan, the period of life spent in good health conditions, was evaluated by quantifying the flies' lifespan, locomotor activity, heat stress tolerance, lipid content, and dry weight. The results showed that malnutrition had severe negative impact, such as reduced lifespan, locomotor activity, heat stress tolerance, fat content, and dry weight. The negative phenotypic effects were highly sex-dependent, with males being more negatively impacted by malnutrition compared to females. These findings highlight important detrimental and sex-specific effects of malnutrition not only on lifespan but also on traits related to healthspan.

Nutritional values of Artemia salina (brine shrimp) enriched with microalgae Chlorella vulgaris grown in banana stem compost extract medium

ABSTRACT Artemia salina enrichment is limited by the high cost and availability of commercial microalgae culturing media. This study was conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of Artemia salina nauplii enriched with Chlorella vulgaris grown in Bold’s Basal Medium (BBM, commercial media) and banana stem compost extract (BSCE) as the alternative low-cost media. The C. vulgaris was cultured in the laboratory and fed to Artemia nauplii hatched as per standard protocols and, after that, analyzed for nutritional values. Artemia fed BSCE-cultured C. vulgaris had significantly (p < .05) higher carbohydrates, total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and monounsaturated fatty acids, but lower saturated fatty acids (SFAs), while protein and lipids were the same as those fed BBM-cultured C. vulgaris. It was concluded that BSCE can replace BBM as an alternative microalgae culturing media and produce an ideal enrichment diet for fish larvae nutrition because of high PUFAs and lower SFAs.

An Atypical Course of Cardiomyopathy Syndrome (CMS) in Farmed Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Fed a Clinical Nutrition Diet.

Cardiomyopathy syndrome (CMS) poses a significant threat to farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), leading to high mortality rates during the seawater phase. Given that controlled experimental challenge trials with PMCV do not reproduce the mortality observed in severe field outbreaks of CMS, field trials on natural CMS outbreaks are warranted. This field study explored the impact of a clinical nutrition intervention, specifically a diet enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), on a severe CMS outbreak in a commercial sea farm. CMS was diagnosed in a single sea cage with high mortality rates. Histopathological analysis, RT-qPCR in situ hybridization for virus detection, and fatty acid composition analysis were used to monitor the impact of disease and the inclusion of EPA and DHA in heart tissue. Following the implementation of clinical nutrition, a decline in mortality rates, regression of CMS-associated changes, and a significant reduction in piscine myocarditis virus (PMCV) RNA load were observed within the salmon population. Fatty acid composition analysis of heart samples demonstrated increased levels of EPA and DHA, reinforcing the association between dietary factors, viral load dynamics, and overall fish health. Although further validation is needed in future studies, as field trials may not be sufficient to establish causation, our results indicate that optimizing the EPA + DHA levels may prove beneficial in severe CMS outbreaks.

INTEGRATING ANIMAL MODEL, HUMAN SUBJECTS, AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS IN NUTRITION AND AGING RESEARCH

Abstract This symposium will bring together speakers who will present cutting-edge research on nutrition and aging from interdisciplinary perspectives using complementary methods. Nutrition plays an important role in understanding the biology of aging, promoting healthy aging, preventing age-related diseases, and supporting aging populations at risks. This symposium will present innovative studies using animal models, population surveys, and nutrition programs to inform future research and promote nutrition security and diet quality. Lee et al. examine sex-specific differences in gut homeostasis and host metabolism in female and male mice fed different rodent diets. Shea et al. and Ardisson Korat et al. focus on dietary quality and patterns in older populations. Using a novel network analysis, Shea et al. examine similarities and differences in the manner in which food groups are consumed in a nationally representative sample from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Ardisson Korat et al. utilize data from the Nurse’s Health Study and evaluate the long-term role of dietary carbohydrate quality in promoting healthy aging. Borth &amp; Whitmire and El-Abbadi et al. investigate food insecurity and nutrition programs among older adults during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from US Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey (April 2020 to December 2022), El-Abbadi et al. explore the differences in food insecurity by age-groups, gender, and race and ethnicity. Borth &amp; Whitmire conduct research on congregate nutrition programs to identify successful practices of nutrition programs during the pandemic and discuss challenges and directions in future congregate nutrition programs. This is a Nutrition Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.

Mercapto–palygorskite decreases the Cd uptake of wheat by changing Fe and Mn fraction in Cd contaminated alkaline soil

Wheat is one of the major sources of dietary nutrition for human body, and excessive Cadmium (Cd) in wheat poses a serious risk to human health. Mercapto–palygorskite (MP) has been proven to efficiently reduce Cd stress in wheat, but the contribution of major soil oxides to the stability of soil Cd under MP treatment is unclear. Here, a wheat pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of soil Fe and Mn oxides on the Cd fraction under MP treatment. The results showed that the application of MP decreased the diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)–extractable Cd by 24.0–34.7 %, increased the Fe and Mn oxide-bound Cd (OX–Cd) by 5.0–12.0 % and significantly reduced the Cd content in wheat grains (17.9–69.5 %). It also decreased the soil’s free Fe and Mn oxides by 6.1–11.7 %and 6.9–12.4 %, respectively, and increased the amorphous Fe and Mn oxides by 19.3–32.5 % and 21.9–24.1 %, respectively. In addition, the application of MP increased the concentration of Fe and Cd in soil colloid by 19.3–33.3 % and 11.3–45.3 %, respectively. Correlation analysis indicated that the amorphous Fe, Mn oxides in soil had a significant positive correlation with the content of Fe and Mn bound Cd in soil (P < 0.01). Primary component analysis (PCA) analysis shows colloidal Fe and Mn on the soil available Cd had relatively high positively loadings. Meanwhile, soil colloidal Fe exhibited a significant positive correlation with colloidal Cd (P < 0.01) and amorphous Fe oxides (P < 0.01). These results indicated that MP remediated Cd-contaminated soil by promoting an increase in amorphous Fe, Mn oxides and their adsorption and precipitation of Cd on these oxides.

Does the Nutritional Intake and Diet Quality of Children With Chronic Kidney Disease Differ From Healthy Controls? A Comprehensive Evaluation

Children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) experience many obstacles to achieving optimal dietary intake. Dietary intake patterns remain unexplored or poorly described. This study compares nutritional intake and diet quality of Australian children with CKD to controls. A food frequency questionnaire captured intake data and was compared to controls. Nutritional intake was determined using individualized nutrient reference values, and diet quality described using the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and the Australian Child and Adolescent Recommended Food Score. Children with CKD (n=36) and controls (n=82) were studied. Children with CKD had lower weight and height z scores, but higher body mass index (P<.0001 for all parameters). Children with CKD had adequate energy intake, and excessive protein and sodium intake (336% and 569%). They were significantly less likely to meet requirements for vitamin A (P<.001), thiamine (P=.006), folate (P=.01), vitamin C (P=.008), calcium (P< .0001), iron (P=.01), magnesium (P=.0009), and potassium (P=.002). No child met recommended vegetable intake; however, less than half of children with CKD met fruit (44%), grains (31%), and dairy serves (31%). They were also less likely to meet recommended fruit and dairy serves (P=.04 and P=.01, respectively). Non-core foods provided 36% of energy, and although comparable to controls, was contributed more by takeaway foods (P=.01). Children with CKD have reduced nutritional intake of key nutrients and consume more takeaways than controls. Attention to increasing core foods, limiting sodium intake, and managing restrictions while promoting nutrient density appears necessary.

Nutrient Profiling, ICP-OES Mineral Analysis and UPLC Estimation of Amino Acids in Three Selected Ethnomedicinal Plants of North East India

Background: Ethnomedicinal plants are rich traditional resources of Northeast India. Most of these plants are edible and are used as food by the tribal population of Northeast India. Quantitative nutritional analyses of three ethnomedicinal wild edible plant from Northeast India namely: Zanthoxylum oxyphyllum Edgew, Rotheca serrata (L.) Steane and Mabb. and Blumea lanceolaria (Roxb.) Druce were carried out to identify the occurrence and abundance of nutrients, minerals and amino acids. Methods: Proximate nutrients were estimated by standard AOAC methods. ICP-OES mineral analyzer was used to screen and quantify individual mineral elements. By performing UPLC analysis the presence and abundance of amino acids were investigated. Result: Proximate analysis revealed that the plant species contains adequate amounts of protein, fibre and ash. From nutritional perspectives, low fat and carbohydrate in these species specifies that they are desirable diet for human nutrition. In regard to mineral content, the plant species were rich in macro minerals K, Ca, Na and Mg. Heavy metals were found within the recommended dietary permissible limits for humans. All the essential and non essential amino acids excluding cysteine, methionine and histidine were present in reasonable quantities. The plant species may be exploited to provide quality diets to mitigate nutrient deficiency. Adding together its nutritional and medicinal properties it may potentially be utilized in therapeutics. The further scope of the research involves ascertaining their potentiality in food-based strategies to perk up nutritional health.

Correlation between socio-demographic characteristics, metabolic control factors and personality traits with self-perceived health status in patients with diabetes: A cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to assess the relationship between metabolic control factors, socio-demographic characteristics, personality traits, and self-perceived health status in diabetes. This cross-sectional study included 318 patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes (DM). Participants completed a questionnaire-based survey, which included the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised to measure five personality dimensions and the SF-12 survey to assess self-perceived health status. Binary logistic regression was performed to analyze the data, with socio-demographic characteristics, clinical data, and nutrition status as independent variables, and self-perceived health status (categorized as poor or good condition) as the dependent variable. Unadjusted and adjusted binary logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between personality traits (high vs. low) and metabolic control factors (good control vs. bad control) with health status scores. 60.7% of the participants with diabetes in the study described their health as "good." The results indicated that female gender (OR: 0.314, 95%CI: 0.105-0.938, P = 0.038), age > 60 years (OR: 0.263, 95%CI: 0.117-0.592, P = 0.001), comorbidities (OR: 0.314, 95%CI: 0.178-0.556, P = 0.001), DM complications (OR: 0.531, 95%CI: 0.337-0.838, P = 0.007), diabetic neuropathy (OR: 0.562, 95%CI: 0.356-0.886, P = 0.013), and diabetic ulcer (OR: 0.130, 95%CI: 0.023-0.747, P = 0.022) were independent variables associated with a "poor" health status. However, regular physical activity (OR: 3.144, 95%CI: 1.209-8.175, P = 0.019) and a healthy nutritional diet (OR: 2.456, 95%CI: 1.421-4.245, P < 0.001) were associated with a higher likelihood of a "good" self-perceived health status. Preventive programs and interventions aimed at improving self-perceived health among patients with diabetes should focus on increasing regular physical activity and promoting a healthy nutritional status. These actions should be particularly targeted towards female and older patients with higher neuroticism traits.

Nutrition Knowledge and Diet in Female College Students in Turkey: Youth Education in Nutrition Initiative/Nutrition Education Works (YENI/NEW)—A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

Healthy dietary patterns can play a major role in preventing chronic diseases. Improving nutrition-related knowledge in young individuals is considered a promising approach to adopting healthy dietary behaviors, thus improving outcomes later in life. However, healthy eating habits in college students may prove challenging to acquire and maintain. This cross-sectional pilot study aimed to investigate the relationship between nutrition knowledge and its effect on dietary factors, body weight, and body composition in female college students in Turkey. Second- and third-year female college nutrition students (NS), (n = 85) and corresponding non-nutrition/non-health sciences students (NNS) (n = 80), aged 20–22 years old, were evaluated using a validated nutrition knowledge questionnaire, 24 h recalls, anthropometry, and body composition analysis using bioelectrical impedance during the 2015–2016 academic year. The findings revealed that nutrition knowledge was positively associated with increased intake of water, fruits and vegetables, grains, and fiber, whereas total carbohydrate intake exhibited an inverse relationship with nutrition knowledge. Moreover, protein and lipid intake, while not significant, appeared to show higher and lower values, respectively, for the NS participants compared to NNS, revealing a healthier trend for more nutrition-knowledgeable students, which was similar to the finding of a marginally better body composition profile in nutrition-knowledgeable students. As young adulthood is critical for the development of dietary habits, demonstrating the effectiveness of nutrition education is important as a potential tool for public health in terms of improving the risk of chronic diseases.

ÉPOP (traditional starter culture): a complex composition of plant resources prepared by the Misings of Assam, Northeast India

Ethnic practices with relation to starter culture reflect a region-specific traditions; therefore, documentation of such knowledge is key to improvise basic understanding as how traditions, cultures, and processes are linked to local dietary systems, food and nutrition security, and social connection. Considering this, the present study aims to investigate the Mising ethnic tribal group, Assam state in Northeast India, with a focus to investigate mode of starter culture making for preparing local beverage along with plant species being used, time of collection, procedure of making starter culture, and how it is preserved. The community maintains an agrarian culture and is closely associated with forest-based natural resources. This group of people consumes various foods prepared from wild plants and crops along with meat and fish. Apong is one of the most important components of their culture, used as a beverage made up of rice by using starter culture locally known as ÉPOP. Detailed process of making of starter culture was documented. A total of 31 plant species varying from 22 families belonging to both flowering and non-flowering plants were recorded used by the community. Eight species also comprised market potential for diverse uses besides being used in starter culture preparation. The source of the collected resources varied from fallow land to forest, with the highest collection concentration in the forest (35.5%), mostly collected in the afternoon (51.61%) to ensure a quality of the plant material. The collected plant materials are mixed with soaked glutinous rice and made into starter cultures of different sizes that have a shelf life of 6 months. The study highlights that use of starter culture is consistent and harmless with distinct flavor and taste that apt to local appetite. Conserving community knowledge on starter culture making, however, requires appropriate policy planning and action line. The investigation not only increases our understanding on local food tradition but also has potential for applications in fermented food industry and thus opens up a new line of research in future.

Effects of Educational Intervention on Dietary Pattern and Nutrition Intake among Elders in Oyo State, Nigeria

Effects of Educational Intervention on Dietary Pattern and Nutrition Intake among Elders in Oyo State, Nigeria

A Parental perspective on School Children’s Dietary habits, Nutrition and Health outcomes

A Parental perspective on School Children’s Dietary habits, Nutrition and Health outcomes