Rice-based Diet Research Articles

A Cross-sectional Study - Relationship Between Rice-based Diet and Prevalence of Obesity among Adults in University of Cyberjaya

Background: It is evidently known that a high-fat and high-sodium dietary pattern and a sedentary lifestyle are one of many major risk factors to metabolic syndrome. However, people often overlook the association between rice-based dietary patterns and high BMI. In many Asian countries, as such in Malaysia, where their daily dietary pattern involves rice-based meals, the prevalence of obesity among adults has increased significantly over the past years. Thus, it is of our concern to investigate the association between rice-based dietary pattern and high BMI. Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to study the association between rice-based and rice-dominant dietary patterns and high BMI among the adults in the University of Cyberjaya. Methodology: 180 participants, comprised of staff and students of University of Cyberjaya aged 18-65 years old were recruited through convenience sampling method. Microsoft forms and physical form questionnaire hand-outs were used to collect and organise the data. Descriptive statistical methods and chi-square were done for data analysis. Results: No significant association between rice-based dietary pattern and high BMI (P=0.349) found. However, it was observed that rice-dominant dietary pattern had a strong association with high BMI (P=0.006). Conclusion: While incorporation of rice in daily diet was not significantly associated with risk of high BMI, consuming rice dominantly as part of daily dietary pattern was strongly associated with overweight and obesity among the study population.

Survival Time of Campylobacter jejuni in Broiler Crops.

Lactobacillus spp. inhibit the growth of Campylobacter spp. in vitro. However, in chicken crops, in which Lactobacillus spp. predominate, such inhibition of Campylobacter has not been confirmed. In our previous study, feeding paddy rice to broiler chicks increased the residence time of the food, which might enhance the bactericidal activity of the crop. Here, the bactericidal activity against the remaining Campylobacter spp. in broiler crops was evaluated. A suspension prepared by mixing Campylobacter jejuni and titanium dioxide (TiO2) was inoculated into the pharynx of 26-day-old broiler chicks fed a paddy rice-based diet. The crop contents were sampled at 20-min intervals. The TiO2 residual ratio in the crop gradually decreased with time after inoculation, with 57% of the inoculated TiO2 remaining in the crop 60 min after inoculation. The survival fraction of C. jejuni in the crops was 11% at 40 min, only 1% at 60 min, and was undetectable at 80 min. Most of the inoculated C. jejuni died in the crop before entering the next segment. These data indicated that bacterial death occurred between 30 min and 40 min after inoculation. The average survival time of C. jejuni in the crop was calculated to be 37.1 min. Thus, C. jejuni remaining in a chicken crop for more than 40 min died.

A critical analysis of various post-harvest arsenic removal treatments of rice and their impact on public health due to nutrient loss.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is particularly susceptible to arsenic (As) accumulation. Currently, to decrease the level of As accumulated in rice, various post-harvest methods, i.e., polishing, parboiling, pH-dependent soaking, washing, and cooking at different rice-to-water ratios (r/w), are being focused, because it removes significant amount of As from rice grain. Depending upon the rice variety and type, i.e., rough (with husk), husked (without husk/brown), or polished rice, these methods can remove 39-54% As by parboiling, 38-55% by polishing, 37-63% by soaking, and 6-80% by washing and cooking. Infants are highly vulnerable to As exposure; thus, these methods can be helpful for the production of rice-based infant foods. Although concern arises during the use of these methods that apart from decreasing the level of As in rice grain, they also lead to a significant loss of nutrients, such as macro- and micro-elements present in rice. Among these discussed methods, parboiling curtails 5-59%, polishing curtails 6-96%, soaking curtails 33-83%, and washing and cooking in different r/w reduce 8-81% of essential nutrients resulting in 2-90% reduction in contribution to the RDI of these nutrients through rice-based diet. Thus, these post-harvest arsenic removal methods, although reduce arsenic induced health hazard,but mayalso lead to malnutrition and compromised health in the population based on rice diet. There is a need to explore another way to reduce As from rice without compromising the nutrient availability or to supplement these nutrients through grain enrichment or by introducing additional dietary sources by changing eating habits; however, this may impose an extra economic burden on people.

Effect of Brown Rice Intervention on BMI and Waist Circumference in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Brown rice, derived from white rice with the removal of the husk, contains higher dietary fiber and a lower glycemic index than regular white rice. These advantages can be an alternative diet for individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease ranked as the fourth leading cause of death in the world, often associated with obesity. In addition, insulin insensitivity in individuals with type 2 diabetes leads to increased hunger (polyphagia) and overeating, resulting in increasing BMI and waist circumference. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of the brown rice diet intervention on BMI and waist circumference of patients with type 2 diabetes. This study was a pre-experimental study without control variables and the sample was not selected randomly, using a one-group pretest-posttest design with a 3-month intervention. Data analysis in this study used the Shapiro-Wilk normality test followed by the paired t-test to determine the difference between two paired samples. The statistical results showed significant changes in BMI and abdominal circumference (p = 0.002 and p = 0.008, respectively). In conclusion, there are differences in BMI and abdominal circumference of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus before and after the intervention of a brown rice-based diet menu.

Carbohydrate and Fiber Intake on Fasting Blood Glucose Levels In Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus after Intervention of Brown Rice Diet

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia that occurs due to a decrease in insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells and insulin resistance. One of the pillars in the management of T2DM is medical nutrition therapy in the form of a balanced diet. A good intake of carbohydrates and fiber can help control fasting blood glucose levels of diabetic patients. This study aims to determine the relationship between carbohydrate and fiber intake on fasting blood glucose levels in patients with T2DM after the intervention of brown rice diet. The type used in this study was pre-experimental without control variables and the sample was not selected randomly. The design was one-shot case study by looking at the post-test results. The number of samples was 18 people aged 48–60 years. Data analysis used the Shapiro Wilk normality test and Spearman correlation test. The results showed that most of the respondents had normal carbohydrate intake (88.9%) and all respondents had good fiber intake (100%). Most of the respondents had uncontrolled fasting blood glucose levels (55.6%). There is no relationship between carbohydrate and fiber intake on fasting blood glucose levels after the intervention of a brown rice-based diet menu.

Differential Impacts of Cereal and Protein Sources Fed to Pigs after Weaning on Diarrhoea and Faecal Shedding of Escherichia coli, Production, and Total Tract Apparent Digestibility

Different cereal types, in combination with different protein sources, are fed to pigs after weaning, but their interactions and possible implications are not well researched. In this study, 84 male weaned piglets were used in a 21-day feeding trial to investigate the effects of feeding either medium-grain or long-grain extruded rice or wheat, in a factorial combination with protein sources of either vegetable or animal origin, on postweaning performance, shedding of β-haemolytic Escherichia coli, and the coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD). Pigs fed either rice type performed the same (p > 0.05) as wheat-fed pigs after weaning. The use of vegetable protein sources reduced growth rate (p < 0.001) and feed intake (p = 0.007) and deteriorated the feed conversion ratio (p = 0.028) in weeks two and three compared to pigs fed animal protein sources. The number of antibiotic treatments given for clinical diarrhoea was similar (p > 0.05). However, the faecal E. coli score showed a trend for the main effect of protein source, with pigs fed animal proteins showing a higher E. coli score than pigs fed vegetable proteins (0.63 vs. 0.43, p = 0.057). There was also a tendency for an interaction (p = 0.069) between cereal type and protein source (p = 0.069), with this difference being associated with a greater faecal score in pigs fed diets with long-grain rice plus animal proteins and wheat plus animal proteins. Significant interactions occurred for the CTTAD when assessed in week three. In general, pigs fed diets with medium-grain rice or long-grain rice with animal proteins had a higher (p < 0.001) CTTAD for dietary components than pigs fed all other diets, and vegetable proteins depressed (p < 0.001) CTTAD compared to animal proteins (main effect of protein: p < 0.001). In summary, pigs tolerated the extruded rice-based diets well and performed equivalently to pigs fed wheat as the sole cereal, and the use of vegetable proteins decreased the E. coli score.

Maxizyme EX Supplementation for Improving Nutrient Utilization from Broken Rice-Based Diet in Broilers

Maxizyme EX Supplementation for Improving Nutrient Utilization from Broken Rice-Based Diet in Broilers

Effects of Yeast Culture Supplementation in Wheat-Rice-Based Diet on Growth Performance, Meat Quality, and Gut Microbiota of Growing-Finishing Pigs.

Simple SummaryIn recent years, the soaring price of corn–soybean meal has led to an increase in the price of feed, which has brought significant challenges to the pig industry. The addition of more grains to pig diets will help develop new feed resources and improve profits. In this study, we focused on the effects of yeast culture (YC) supplementation on growth performance, meat quality, and gut microbiota of growing–finishing pigs. Three experimental diets were compared: a corn–soybean-based diet (CON), a wheat–rice-based diet (GRA), and a wheat–rice-based diet supplemented with YC. The growth performance of pigs on the wheat–rice-based diet was similar to that of pigs on the corn–soybean-based diet, but the feed cost reduced by 6.7% compared with CON. The dressing percentages of pigs in GRA and YC also increased by 1.43% and 2.15%, respectively. Meat color and antioxidant capacity improved after YC supplementation. YC supplementation promotes the proliferation of probiotics, inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria, and improves intestinal health. Application of a cereal-based diet and YC supplementation in growing pigs appears to be a very promising strategy for cost saving and economic benefits for the swine industry. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplementation on the growth performance, meat quality, gut health, and microbiota community of growing–finishing pigs. A total of 45 growing–finishing pigs were randomly allocated to three treatments: a corn–soybean-based diet (CON, n = 15), a wheat–rice-based diet (GRA, n = 15), and GRA supplemented with 500 mg/kg yeast culture (YC, n = 15). The results show that compared to the CON group, the GRA group exhibited no significant differences in feed intake, daily gain, or feed conversion ratio, but had significantly reduced feed cost per kilogram BW gain of the finishing pigs (p < 0.05). Compared to that of the CON group, the GRA and YC groups showed an increase in the dressing percentage (p < 0.1). The meat color redness of the YC group increased (p < 0.1), whereas the b* value at 24 h decreased (p < 0.1). Meanwhile, the addition of YC significantly increased total superoxide dismutase activity on day 30 and catalase activity on day 60 (p < 0.05), and decreased serum urea nitrogen content on day 60 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, YC supplementation increased the gene expression of the duodenal anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 (p < 0.05), while it significantly decreased the gene expression of the ileal pro-inflammatory factor IL-8 (p < 0.05). The intestinal microbial identification results show that compared to the CON group, the YC group showed an increase in the relative abundances of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Clostridium in the colon, and a decrease in the relative abundances of Bacteroidea, Clostridae, and Prevotella in the cecum. In conclusion, the growth performance of pigs on a wheat–rice-based diet was similar to that of pigs on a corn–soybean-based diet. Supplementation of 0.5% YC in the wheat–rice-based diet could improve the dressing percentage and meat color of growing–finishing pigs, which might be due to the increase in nitrogen utility and antioxidant capacity, and the improvement of the immune system and changes in microbiota communities.

Loss of ancestral food practices and perception of its effect on children’s health among Inga indigenous grandmothers, Nariño, Colombia

ObjectiveNovel foods and dietary practices, a lack of available land, and displacement by armed conflict have affected the ancestral food traditions practiced by the Inga community in Aponte, in Nariño, Colombia. These factors have led to problems with food security and malnutrition, which have impacted the growth and development of children. Therefore, this study is aimed at identifying the changes in ancestral food practices reported by Inga grandmothers, and the possibility of recuperating them in order to improve children’s health.MethodA qualitative study was conducted that included 24 mothers with children under five years old and 25 grandmothers in nine Inga communities. Participants were recruited using snowball sampling. Free listing was used to identify changes in food patterns, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 grandmothers to delve deeper into the subject. A translator of the Inga language facilitated communication, and the Inga researcher validated the translation using audio recordings. Each interview was transcribed and categorized for the purpose of analysis, using the NVivo 12 software.ResultsFree lists showed changes from a corn-based to a rice-based diet and a wide variety of non-ancestral food products. According to the grandmothers, “tiendas” have replaced traditional foods with those that are easy to prepare, which are attractive to mothers as well as to the children because of their flavor. Ancestral practices such as grinding, peeling, and log cooking are being abandoned. Government programs and daycare have incorporated new food that compete with traditional ones, with no clear evidence of an intercultural approach. Added to this is the dismissal by young mothers of the knowledge held by their grandmothers, which hinders the continuation of traditions.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that it is necessary to prevent the loss of the Inga food culture, and policies need to be created that promote and protect ancestral knowledge and that help to regain the value of the “chagra” farming system, with the support of elders, authorities who are recognized by the community, and government technicians, as recommended by the grandmothers who participated in this study.

Performance of White Pekin Ducks Fed Wheat or Broken Rice based Diets during Mid Phase of Laying under Intensive Rearing System

Background: White Pekin ducks can be reared under intensive rearing system for meat and egg production. Depending upon the availability, duck farmers use different types of cereals for feeding their ducks. Therefore, a study was conducted to find out the performance of White Pekin ducks during mid phase of layingfed on wheat and/or broken rice based diets under intensive rearing system. Methods: White Pekin laying ducks (45; 41 weeks old) were divided into three groups. Three types of diets without (BR-0) and with broken rice (BR), replacing 50 (BR-50) and 100 (BR-100) per cent of wheat were prepared and offered randomly to the above three groups till the ducks attained 52 weeks of age under standard feeding and management practices. Result: The total egg production (dozen) and duck day egg production (DDEP) % were higher in BR-50 group (4.51 and 64.44) than the BR-100 group (3.85 and 55.00); however, both were similar to BR-0 group (4.09 and 58.49). The total feed intake (12.55-13.80, kg) and feed conversion ratio (feed consumed in kg per dozen eggs produced) (2.93-3.31) were similar among the groups. The cost (Rs.) per egg was lower in BR-50 group (7.79) than the BR-0 group (8.32) and BR-100 group (8.71). The egg weight in BR-50 group (76.61 g) was higher than the BR-0 group (75.42 g); however, both were similar with BR-100 group (76.19 g). There was no significant difference in the egg shape index (68.22-69.69), albumen index (0.13-0.14) and yolk index (0.42-0.44) among the groups. The However, the Haugh unit in BR-100 groups (87.32) was lower than BR-0 group (89.90); but both were similar with BR-50 group (89.56). There were no significant differences in the percentage of albumen (55.09-55.71), yolk (31.75-32.38) and shell (12.45-12.63) among the groups. Similarly, the shell thickness with membrane (0.50-0.52, mm) and without membrane (0.43-0.44, mm) were also similar among the groups. It can be concluded that White Pekin ducks can be raised on wheat and/or broken rice-based diets during mid phase of laying under intensive rearing system; however, mixture of wheat and broken rice in equal ratio increased the performance and was economical.

Influence of food macrostructure on the kinetics of acidification in the pig stomach after the consumption of rice- and wheat-based foods: Implications for starch hydrolysis and starch emptying rate

How the stomach can serve as a biochemical environment for starch digestion and the implications on starch emptying are not well-understood. Biochemical changes during gastric digestion of cooked wheat- and rice-based diets of varying particle size and microstructure were investigated using a growing pig model. In larger-particle size diets (rice grain, rice noodle, pasta), pH >3 was maintained in the proximal stomach digesta even until 240 min digestion, resulting in extended remaining amylase activity and accumulation of maltose from starch hydrolysis in the stomach. In smaller-particle size diets (couscous, rice couscous, semolina porridge), gastric acidification occurred faster to produce homogeneous intragastric pH and deactivated amylase. The hypothesis of the study was that food macrostructure would impact gastric acidification kinetics, and the resulting biochemical environment for starch hydrolysis in the stomach may further affect the mechanisms of food breakdown in the stomach and gastric emptying of starch.

Kepatuhan Diet Menggunakan Beras Coklat Terhadap Glukosa Darah Dan Lemak Tubuh Pasien Diabetes Mellitus

Brown rice contains more magnesium, more fiber, and a lower glycemic index than white rice, which is thought to prevent increasing blood glucose and reduce body fat. This study aimed to determine the relationship between adherence to brown rice diet with fasting blood glucose levels and body fat composition in Type 2 DM patients. This study was a quasi-experimental study with one group pre-test and post-test design in 18 patients of type 2 DM that met the inclusion criteria. The research subjects were given a diet intervention for three consecutive months. Examinations of fasting blood glucose and body fat composition were carried out before and after the intervention. During the dietary intervention, 94.4% of respondents complied with the diet. After the intervention, there was a decrease in blood glucose control from the poor category by 27.7%, thepercentage of body fat in the high category by 22.2%, and the visceral fat index in the high category by 22.2%, but there was no relationship between dietary compliance and fasting blood glucose, total body fat, and visceral fat (p=0.339, p= 0.496, p=0.551, spearman). In brief, a brown rice-based diet in Type 2 DM can reduce fasting blood glucose levels and body fat composition, but there is no statistical relationship between dietary compliance with these three parameters.

Rice-Based Diet and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in Japan: From the Takayama Study.

Rice is the staple food in Japan and many other Asian countries, but research on rice-based diets and cardiovascular disease is limited. We aimed to evaluate the association between rice consumption as grain dishes and cardiovascular disease mortality in comparison with bread and noodle consumption. The subjects were 13,355 men and 15,724 women aged ≥35 years who enrolled in the Takayama Study. Diet intake was assessed using a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Causes of death were identified from death certificates. Cardiovascular disease was defined according to the International Classification of Diseases and Health Related Problems, 10th Revision (code I00–I99). Hazard ratios in the second, third, and highest quartiles versus the lowest quartile of rice intake for cardiovascular disease mortality were 0.98, 0.80, and 0.78 for men, respectively (trend p = 0.013), but no significant association was observed among women. Rice intake was positively correlated with the intake of soy products and seaweed, and negatively correlated with the intake of meat and eggs. Neither bread nor noodles were associated with cardiovascular disease mortality. In Japan, choosing rice as a grain dish is likely to be accompanied by healthier foods as side dishes, which may have a potential role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Marginal Zinc Deficiency Alters Essential Fatty Acid Metabolism in Healthy Men

BackgroundRice biofortification with Zinc (Zn) can improve the Zn status of rice-consuming populations. However, the metabolic impact in humans consuming Zn-biofortified rice is unknown. ObjectivesTo determine the effects of Zn-biofortified rice on lipid metabolism in normolipidemic men. MethodsThe men consumed a rice-based diet containing 6 mg Zn/d and 1.5 g phytate (phytate/Zn ratio = 44) for 2 wk followed by a 10-mg Zn/d diet without phytate for 4 wk. An ad libitum diet supplemented with 25 mg Zn/d was then fed for 3 wk. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and at the end of each metabolic period for measuring plasma zinc, glucose, insulin, triglyceride (TG), LDL and HDL cholesterol, fatty acids, oxylipins, and fatty acid desaturase activities. Statistical differences were assessed by linear mixed model. ResultsFatty acid desaturase (FADS) 1 activity decreased by 29.1% (P = 0.007) when the 6-mg Zn/d diet was consumed for 2 wk. This change was associated with significant decreases in HDL and LDL cholesterol. The alterations in FADS1, HDL cholesterol, and TG remained unchanged when Zn intakes were increased to 10 mg/d for 4 wk. Supplementation with 25 mg Zn/d for 3 wk normalized these metabolic changes and significantly increased LDL cholesterol at the end of this metabolic period compared with baseline. FADS1 activity was inversely correlated with FADS2 (rmcorr = –0.52; P = 0.001) and TG (rmcorr = –0.55; P = 0.001) at all time points. ConclusionsA low-zinc, high-phytate rice-based diet reduced plasma HDL cholesterol concentrations and altered fatty acid profiles in healthy men within 2 wk. Consuming 10 mg Zn/d without phytate for 4 wk did not improve the lipid profiles, but a 25-mg Zn/d supplement corrects these alterations in lipid metabolism within 3 wk.

Variations in cadmium accumulation among amon rice cultivars in Bangladesh and associated human health risks.

Rice consumption is one of the major cadmium (Cd) exposure routes for human. Bangladeshi people have historically subsisted on a rice-based diet; however, only a few reports have investigated Cd accumulation by different rice cultivars in Bangladesh. This study was designed to investigate the uptake and accumulation of Cd in different rice cultivars and associated health risks to humans eating rice. A pot experiment was conducted to grow eight amon rice varieties under control, 5 and 10mg Cd/kg soil under open air conditions. After harvesting the Cd fractionation, bioavailable Cd and rice grain Cd content were determined. Cd spiked as Cd2+ enriched the Cd bioavailability to plant by 35% (in 5mg/kg stress) and 85% (in 10mg/kg stress). There were variations among the rice varieties in their ability to accumulate Cd in grain and this was found to be 15-fold higher under control conditions. Grain Cd content significantly differed among the rice varieties at each level of soil Cd. In this study, BR-52 emerged as the most Cd-safe cultivar followed by BR-75, Rani salut, BR-71, BR-49, BR-76, BR-87 and lastly, BINA-7. Most of the agronomic parameters of rice concerning yield were affected by both rice varieties and soil Cd level. In different rice varieties, rhizosphere pH increased through root exudation which ultimately produced equilibria among the five major soil Cd fractions so that Cd became bioavailable to plants. All rice varieties showed high hazard quotient (HQ) values under Cd stress conditions and posed a risk to human health. For noncarcinogenic health risk assessment through HQ, we recommend 0.1mg Cd/kg rice grain be used as the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) in calculating health risk for Bangladeshi people.

Seed Priming and Foliar Application with Nitrogen and Zinc Improve Seedling Growth, Yield, and Zinc Accumulation in Rice

Improving grain yield and zinc (Zn) concentration yields a double benefit for farmers and consumers, especially when accomplished through the common practice of nitrogen (N) and Zn application. The objective of this study was to evaluate responses of a modern improved rice variety (SPT1) to Zn and N fertilizer management of seed germination, seedling growth, yield, and grain Zn accumulation. A preliminary laboratory study was conducted by priming seeds with variation of N and Zn solutions, consisting of (1) 0% urea + 0% ZnSO4 (N0Zn0), (2) 0% urea + 0.07% ZnSO4 (N0Zn+), (3) 0.05% urea + 0.07% ZnSO4 (N0.05Zn+), (4) 0.10% urea + 0.07% ZnSO4 (N0.10Zn+), (5) 0.15% urea + 0.07% ZnSO4 (N0.15Zn+), (6) 0.20% urea + 0.07% ZnSO4 (N0.20Zn+), and (7) 0.25% urea + 0.07% ZnSO4 (N0.25Zn+). Priming seeds with N0.15Zn+ led to a higher germination rate and growth performance. Seedling Zn concentration increased linearly along with the dry weights of root and coleoptile during germination. A second experiment in the field included priming the seed with (1) 0% urea + 0% ZnSO4 (N0Zn0), (2) 0.15% urea + 0% ZnSO4 (N+Zn0), (3) 0% urea + 0.07% ZnSO4 (N0Zn+), and (4) 0.15% urea + 0.07% ZnSO4 (N+Zn+); this experiment showed that simultaneous priming of seeds with 0.15% urea and 0.07% ZnSO4 (N+Zn+) resulted in the highest coleoptile length and seedling dry weight. The highest seedling Zn concentration was observed when priming seeds with N0Zn+ followed by N+Zn+, but the effect disappeared at the later growth stages. A third experiment in the field was conducted by foliar application with four different treatments of (1) 0% urea + 0% ZnSO4 (N0Zn0), (2) 1% urea + 0.5% ZnSO4 (N+Zn0), (3) 0% urea + 0.5% ZnSO4 (N0Zn+), and (4) 1% urea + 0.5% ZnSO4 (N+Zn+). The highest grain yield increases were achieved by foliar application of N+Zn0 (28.5%) and foliar application of N+Zn+ (32.5%), as compared with the control (N0Zn0). Grain Zn concentration was the highest under foliar application of N+Zn+, with a 37.9% increase compared with N0Zn0. This study confirmed that seedling growth performance can be enhanced by initially priming seeds with N and Zn solution, while grain yield and Zn concentration can be improved by foliar application of N and Zn fertilizer. The information would be useful for the appropriate combined application of Zn and N fertilizers in the practical field to improve grain yield and Zn accumulation as well as Zn nutrition among humans with rice-based diets. The result should be extended to a wider range of rice varieties under suitable management of N and Zn fertilizer.

Nutrient variability of rice landraces (Oryza sativa L.) from Manipur, Northeast India and its nutrients supply potential in rice-based diets

PurposeRice landraces are essential for supplying beneficial traits for developing improved rice varieties with better nutritional quality. Nevertheless, in a yield-driven environment, grain nutritional quality has been ignored especially that of rice landraces. Given this, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the content and nutritional variability of rice landraces from Manipur.Design/methodology/approachThirty-three most popular rice landraces were collected as dry paddy samples from Manipur and transported to the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, by air. All the paddy samples were processed and analyzed for 35 nutrient parameters using standard methodologies.FindingsThe mean nutrient content of Nagaland brown rice was: protein 7.5 ± 0.8, fat 3.0 ± 0.3, TDF 5.5 ± 0.4 and ash 1.2 ± 0.2 g/100g. The range of water soluble-vitamin content in mg/100g, was 0.1–0.43 for Thiamine and for Niacin 2.1–3.5, while the content in µg/100g was 40–64 for Riboflavin, 0.5–3.9 for Pantothenic acid and 20–118 for Pyridoxine. A relatively large coefficient of variation was observed for iron (25%), manganese (28%), copper (32%), calcium (13%) and phosphorus (11%). Manipur rice landraces have significantly higher total dietary fiber and lower phytate contents than modern varieties. Milling led to steep losses of nutrients, and limiting to 5% milling substantially improves nutrient retention in milled rice.Research limitations/implicationsFuture nutrition interventions should use rice with superior nutrient quality to improve nutrient intakes. Manipur rice landraces conserved over generations can broaden the genetic base of breeding stocks especially in the face of climate change.Originality/valueThe paper presents comprehensive nutritional data of 33 rice landraces from the state of Manipur, India. The results indicate large nutrient variability even within these 33 rice landraces with important traits such as high total dietary fiber and low phytate contents. The study highlights the importance of conserving the existing rich genetic material of Manipur rice landraces to develop varieties that combine higher yields with stress tolerance and superior grain nutritional value to improve the food and nutrient security.

Can Feeding a Millet-Based Diet Improve the Growth of Children?-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Undernutrition, such as stunting and underweight, is a major public health concern, which requires multi-sectoral attention. Diet plays a key role in growth and should optimally supply all required nutrients to support the growth. While millets (defined broadly to include sorghum) are traditional foods, and climate smart nutritious crops, which are grown across Africa and Asia, they have not been mainstreamed like rice, wheat, and maize. Diversifying staples with millets can potentially provide more macro and micro nutrients, compared to the mainstream crops. However, there is little known scientific evidence to prove millets’ efficacy on growth. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to collate evidence of the benefits of millets in improving the growth of children. Eight eligible randomized feeding trials were included in the meta-analysis. Results from the randomized effect model showed a significant effect (p < 0.05) of millet-based diets on mean height (+28.2%) (n = 8), weight (n = 9) (+26%), mid upper arm circumference (n = 5) (+39%) and chest circumference (n = 5) (+37%) in comparison to regular rice-based diets over for the period of 3 months to 4.5 years, which was based on largely substituting rice with millets. When an enhanced and diverse diet was served, replacing rice with millet had only minimal growth improvement on chest circumference (p < 0.05). The quality assessment using GRADE shows that the evidence used for this systematic review and meta-analysis had moderate quality, based on eight scoring criteria. These results demonstrate the value of adding millet as the staple for undernourished communities. Further understanding of the efficacy of millets on growth in a wider range of diets is important to develop appropriate dietary programs and improve the nutritional status of various age groups across Africa and Asia.

Zinc transport in rice: how to balance optimal plant requirements and human nutrition.

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient for both plants and animals, while its deficiency in crops and humans is a global problem that affects both crop productivity and human health. Since plants and humans differ in their Zn requirements, it is crucial to balance plant nutrition and human nutrition for Zn. In this review, we focus on the transport system of Zn from soil to grain in rice (Oryza sativa), which is a major dietary source of Zn for people subsiding on rice-based diets. We describe transporters belonging to the different families that are involved in the uptake, vacuolar sequestration, root-to-shoot translocation, and distribution of Zn, and discuss their mechanisms of regulation. We give examples for enhancing Zn accumulation and bioavailability in rice grains through the manipulation of genes that are highly expressed in the nodes, where Zn is deposited at high concentrations. Finally, we provide our perspectives on breeding rice cultivars with both increased tolerance to Zn-deficiency stress and high Zn density in the grains.

Potential use of ground brown rice for weanling pigs.

The purpose of the current study was to assess the effects of substituting corn with ground brown rice on growth performance, immune status, and gut microbiota in weanling pigs. Seventy-two weanling pigs (28 d old with 6.78 ± 0.94 kg body weight [BW]) were randomly allotted to two dietary treatments with six pens and six pigs (three barrows and gilts) per pen within a randomized complete block design. The control pigs were fed a typical diet for weanling pigs based on corn and soybean meal diet (control diet: CON), and the other pigs were fed a formulated diet with 100% replacement of corn with ground brown rice for 35d (treatment diet: GBR). Growth performance, immune status, and gut microbiota of weanling pigs were measured. The substitution of corn with GBR did not affect growth performance or diarrhea frequency. Additionally, there were no differences in white blood cell number, hematocrit, cortisol, C-reactive protein, and serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels between pigs fed CON or GBR for the first 2 wk after weaning. However, weanling pigs fed GBR had lower (P < 0.05) serum transforming growth factor-beta 1 level than those fed CON. Furthermore, weanling pigs fed GBR had increased (P < 0.05) relative abundance of phylum Firmicutes and genus Lactobacillus and Streptococcus and decreased (P < 0.05) relative abundance of phylum Bacteroidetes and genus Clostridium and Prevotella in the gut microbiota compared with those fed CON. In conclusion, there was no significant difference in growth performance when corn was replaced with ground brown rice in diets for weanling pigs. Furthermore, the substitution of corn with ground brown rice in weaning diet modulated immune status and gut microbiota of pigs by increasing beneficial microbial communities and reducing harmful microbial communities. Overall, ground brown rice-based diet is a potential alternative to corn-based diet without negative effects on growth performance, immune status, and gut microbiota changes of weanling pigs.