Rich Fruits Research Articles

Dietary pattern, physical activity and body composition of Children with and without Down Syndrome – A case control study

Background: Down syndrome (DS) is a known chromosomal disorder that results in changes in physical and clinical characteristics. Subjects with DS are more likely to be obese or overweight and have some recognized nutrition related problems. The objectives of this study are to compare body composition, food consumption pattern and physical activity level of children with and without DS. Methods: A case-control study of 82 participants (32 cases and 50 controls) was done. Anthropometric data related to weight, height, waist circumference, fat mass and fat free mass were obtained from the subjects. Food frequency questionnaire and survey were used to evaluate the dietary intake from 8 food groups and physical activity, respectively. Results: Children with DS exhibited significantly less intake of fruits and leafy vegetables (P < 0.05) compared to controls. There was no significant difference in the average number of sport activities that both children with DS and NDS were involved in, male with DS preferred dancing (P = 0.028) while NDS preferred football (P = 0.008). Statistically significant difference between the cases and controls was found in female fat mass (P = 0.043), waist circumference (P = 0.024, 0.007), hip circumference (P = 0.05, 0.011) and waist to height ratio (P < 0.001) of both male and female children with and without DS. Conclusion: Abdominal obesity is a major health concern among children with DS, indicating their increased risk of comorbidities associated with abdominal obesity such as insulin resistance. Their tendency to consume simple carbohydrate instead of fiber rich food, fruits and vegetables might further increase their risk of obesity. Perception of the dietary and physical activity preferences could help in the development of a life style program for higher quality of life.

A cross-sectional study of feeding practice status in children (6–23 months), association with malnutrition, and impacts of maternal determinants

Background: Inadequate complementary feeding practices lead to poor cognition, stunting, and increased rate of infections. Insight into deficiencies of complementary feeding practices could help in planning and implementing newer approaches at various levels of intersection. Aims and Objectives: The aim and purpose of the study were to determine the complementary feeding practices, to identify maternal determinants of each practice, and to analyze the associations between complementary feeding practices with malnutrition. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, of a tertiary hospital over a 14-week period. All children aged 6–23 months were included in the study. Data were collected using a pre-structured questionnaire based on the World Health Organization Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) indicators for assessing IYCF practices. Results: A total of 400 mothers participated in the study. The mean age of children was 12.58 20±5.02 months, male: female = 1.6:1. The mean age of starting complementary feeding was 6.81±1.79 months. Semisolid food was introduced in 90.2% of children, minimum dietary diversity was received by 61.0%, minimum meal frequency by 83.8%, and minimum acceptable diet by 58.2%, eggs and flesh by 14.2% and 3.5% children, respectively; only 9.2% received vitamin A rich fruits and 38.5% did not receive any vegetable or fruit. Bottle feeding was present in 55.5% of population. Maternal parameters (education, employment access to media) and socioeconomic status were significantly associated with feeding practices (P<0.05). A significant difference was found in the nutritional status (wasting and stunting) of children who did not receive minimum dietary diversity (P<0.01). Conclusion: Wide gap exists in feeding practices even in urban settings and was significantly associated with child’s nutritional status.

In silico analysis of selected nutrition rich fruit of Bunch berry (Lantana camara) constituents as human acetylcholinesterase (hAchE), carbonic anhydrase II (hCA-II) and carboxylesterase 1 (hCES-1) inhibitory agents

BackgroundBunch berry (Lantana camara) is primarily composed of flavonoids and vitamin C; therefore, it has been shown to possess various medical characteristics, including the ability to relieve fever, inflammation, and urinary tract infections. ObjectiveIn this study, we intended to assess twenty chosen constituents of Bunch berry as potent inhibitory agents of human acetylcholinesterase (hAchE), carbonic anhydrase II (hCA-II) and carboxylesterase 1 (hCES-1) employing in silico techniques. MethodsThe twenty chosen Bunch berry components were examined about docking behaviour of hAchE, hCA-II and hCES-I by using the Swissdock method. Apart from to docking, Molecular physico-chemical, drug-likeness, ADME (ingesting, dispersing, metabolising, and excreting), and toxicity assessments were also performed utilising the Molinspiration, Swiss ADME, pkCSM, and STITCH web sites, correspondingly. ResultsEight ligands (40 %) have exhibited strict adherence to Lipinski's rule of five (Ro5), according to molecular physico-chemical study. Drug-likeness property analysis has shown that five ligands (25 %) of Bunch berry predicted to exhibit moderate bioactivity score against all the descriptors. ADME analysis has shown that five ligands (25 %) of Bunch berry are predicted to possess high gastrointestinal absorption property Toxicity analysis has shown that six ligands (30 %) of Bunch berry are predicted to have hERG II (Human ether-a-go-go-related gene) inhibition activity. According to the docking analysis, lantic acid has the lowest atomic binding energy for all three target enzymes, hAchE (-6.23 kcal/mol), hCA-II (-4.46 kcal/mol), and hCES-I (-5.99 kcal/mol), respectively. ConclusionsThus the current find provides an advanced understanding the twenty selected ligands of Bunch berry as potent inhibitory agents of human acetylcholinesterase (hAchE), carbonic anhydrase II (hCA-II) and carboxylesterase 1 (hCES-1).

Sustainable aquafeed development: Incorporating select fruit wastes into Zebrafish diets using mathematical model-based approach

Expensive aquafeed is a major problem in aquaculture, creating the need for a low-cost feed that provides ideal nutritional requirement to maximize growth performances. This study aims to formulate and evaluate two new optimized Zebrafish feeds (F1 and F2) using linear programming mathematical model, one of which incorporates two pigment rich fruit wastes (Pitaya peel and Roselle calyx) in the formulation. The model represents nutritional content and cost of each ingredient into linear equations, with the goal of finding ideal combination that satisfies the specific nutrient requirements. By systematically evaluating ingredient proportions, linear programming ensures that Zebrafish receives adequate nutrients at the lowest possible cost, making the feed development process more efficient and cost-effective. The novel feed formulations derived from the mathematical model were tested on the growth and pigmentation of Zebrafish in comparison to a commercial feed (control). Feed intake of F1 and F2 were generally found to be similar to the control feed, indicating the acceptability of the formulated feeds by the Zebrafish. Body weight and length of Zebrafish fed with F1 and F2 were comparable to Zebrafish fed with control feed (p > 0.05). Similarly, Zebrafish fed with F1 and F2 showed no significant differences in pigment intensity compared to Zebrafish fed with control feed (p > 0.05). The survival rate of fishes in all feeding groups were greater than 70 % with no significant differences (p > 0.05). Results obtained in this study illustrated the potential of mathematic linear programming and effectiveness of utilising pigment-rich fruit wastes in formulating an optimized economic aquafeed.

Energy assessment of some nuts and dried fruits grown in Pakistan’s climate and their role for weight control management

The aim of the present study is to assess the energy contents of different dry fruits consumed in Pakistan. Six samples of tree nuts (walnut, almond, pine nut, pistachio, cashew nut, and coconut), one sample of the ground nut (peanut), and four samples of dried fruits (figs, apricot, dates, and raisins) were selected for this purpose. The energy contents of nuts and dried fruits were estimated using oxygen bomb calorimeter. Peanut was identified as the energy rich fruit (875.86 Cal/100g), followed by walnut (818.84 Cal/100g), coconut (787.36 Cal/100g), almond (785.61 Cal/100g), pine nut (772.31 Cal/100g), Pistachio (624.72 Cal/100g), and the cashew nut (616.46 Cal/100g). The energy values of the dry fruits were found higher in nuts (875.86-616.46 Cal/100g), compare to dried fruits (352.04–505.31 Cal/100g). Protein and fats contribute to the energy values of nuts; while carbohydrates make a valuable contribution to the energy content of dried fruits. The recommended serving of dry fruits was found to fulfill 20.26−4.40 % of the minimum estimated energy requirement (EER) of persons of different life styles. On the basis of the caloric content of the studied dry fruits, one can easily calculate the required amount of a particular dry fruit per day in accordance to gender, age and PAL life style. Therefore, the study would be helpful to plan weight balance strategies for individuals interested in energy dense food.

Preparation of Low Fat Lassi by Incorporation of Ginger (Zingiber officinale L.) Juice

The study was conducted at Dept. of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, Dr. BSKKV, Dapoli, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India during August 2010–January 2011 to evaluate the suitability of ginger juice as flavoring agent in developing ginger lassi. Lassi is a cultured milk beverage and a popular product in India, In Maharashtra also generally lassi is prepared from buffalo milk curd which gives creamy appearance with pleasant mildly acidic sweet taste and rich aroma. The functionality of Lassi increases with the addition of probiotic microorganisms and incorporation of antioxidant rich fruit juice provides strong antioxidant power endow with value addition to the finished product. Ginger is mostly used to cure nausea, ulcer, stroke, Sore throat, Hypertension, indigestion, and Arthritis. Ginger appears to be promising for safe use in medicine, pharmaceutical and food industries. Ginger is a popular home remedy in India today. Hence forth considering the medicinal properties of ginger and use of skim milk in restricting the caloric intake. The lassi was prepared from buffalo skim milk by using ginger juice at different levels viz. 1.5% (T1), 3.0% (T2), 4.5% (T3) and 6.0% (T4) of the content. This prepared lassi was compared with control lassi (T0) i.e. without addition of ginger juice. Ginger juice could be successfully utilized for preparation of herbal lassi. The most acceptable quality lassi can be prepared by using 3.0% ginger juice and It recorded on an average total solid, fat, protein, ash, and acidity as 18.49, 0.52, 3.43, 0.78, and 0.79% respectively.

Biological Properties in Relation to the Health-Promoting Effects of Independent and Combined Garcinia mangostana Pericarp and Curcuma in Lean Wistar Albino Rats

With the increase in verifications and proofs highlighting the association between diet and health, several food products, such as phenolic rich fruits and vegetables, have emerged as possessing potential health benefits. Plants rich with fiber and phenolic content have long been considered as a health-promoting dietary intervention. Therefore, the present work aimed to test the independent and combined potential benefits of mangosteen pericarp extract (MPE) and curcuma rhizome extract (CRE) consumption through an in vivo study on Wister albino rats. The data demonstrated that the three nutritional interventions had no effect on serotonin or glutamate, but dopamine was considerably increased in response to the combined effects of MPE and curcuma (p ˂ 0.025). The anti-inflammatory potency of independent MPE and curcuma, as well as their combined effects, recorded lower levels of IL12 in all groups compared to controls (p ˂ 0.05), and only a considerably lower IL-6 in combination treatment only (p ˂ 0.028). The three dietary interventions dramatically lowered leptin levels, with the combined treatment significantly lower than the healthy control group (p ˂ 0.001). The combined treatment significantly improved levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and GSH as indicators of oxidative stress and antioxidant capability. Our data reported anti-dyslipidemic and anti-hyperglycemic effects of the three studied nutritional interventions, with the independent curcuma being the most effective anti-hyperglycemic compound (p ˂ 0.009). Collectively, the three used nutritional intervention strategies demonstrated promising health-promoting effects with no side effects.

Is phosphine an ideal candidate for fruit fly disinfestation in Java apple, Syzygium samarangense?

Java apple, Syzygium samarangense, a nutritionally rich fruit species cultivated in Southeast Asia is prone to fruit fly infestation. Since no commercial management protocols currently exist for disinfesting java apple against fruit flies, the present study investigated the suitability of phosphine fumigation for post-harvest disinfestation of java apple fruit. Fruit exposed to gravid female Bactrocera dorsalis overnight were subjected to phosphine fumigation at concentrations ranging from 0.14 to 2.78 mg/L for 24, 48 and 72 h at ambient conditions. Gas chromatographic analysis of the PH3 concentration revealed that approximately 65% of phosphine gas was lost in treatment chambers fumigated with highest concentration of 2.78 mg/L for 72 h. B. dorsalis eggs could be mitigated by exposing java apple fruit to a concentration × time product of 16.67 mg/L-h of PH3 or more. Fumigating fruit at PH3 concentrations below 0.69 mg/L for 24 h and 48 h did not significantly change the color of treated fruit. Furthermore, the texture of the fruit post PH3 fumigation remained unaffected. Phosphine treated java apple fruit showed no trace of phosphine residues at exposures shorter than 72 h. In conclusion, phosphine can be a viable treatment for the management of B. dorsalis eggs in S. samarangense fruit at lower concentrations and shorter durations without affecting the fruit quality.

What Do United States Adolescents Eat? Food Group Consumption Patterns and Dietary Diversity from a Decade of Nationally Representative Data

BackgroundAlthough the importance of adolescent nutrition has gained attention in the global nutrition community, there is a gap in research focused on adolescent dietary diversity and food group consumption. ObjectivesThis study aimed to characterize population-level food group consumption patterns and quantify the extent of dietary diversity among United States adolescents using a large nationally representative sample of adolescents aged 10–19 y. MethodsWe used 24-h dietary recall data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2018 to construct the 10 food groups comprising the minimum dietary diversity for women (MDD-W) indicator and estimated the prevalence of intake of each food group. A composite metric adolescent dietary diversity score (ADDS) was derived for each adolescent where 1 point was awarded per food group. Both population scores and the distribution of individual scores were estimated. Differences in proportions of food groups consumed across sociodemographic categories were tested using the Rao–Scott χ2 test, and pairwise comparisons were expressed as population prevalence differences and prevalence ratios. ResultsFood group consumption patterns were very similar across 2 d of dietary recall but varied significantly by sex, race/ethnicity, and income status. The food groups with the highest prevalence of consumption were grains, white roots, and tubers (∼99%), milk products (∼92%), and meat, poultry, and fish (∼85%), whereas <15% of adolescents consumed key micronutrient-dense foods, such as vitamin A–rich fruits and vegetables and dark green vegetables. The mean ADDS was 4.69, with modest variation across strata. ConclusionsOn average, United States youth consumed fewer than 5 food groups on a given day. The lack of dietary variety and relatively low prevalence of consumption of several micronutrient-rich plant-based foods could pose a risk for adolescents’ ability to achieve micronutrient adequacy in the United States.

Dietary diversity and micronutrient rich food consumption patterns among women of reproductive age in Kayunga and Jinja, Uganda

The diets of women of reproductive age (WRA) in low-income countries have been reported to be inadequate in micronutrients which lead to undernutrition. The foods commonly consumed by women are usually starchy plant-based cereals, roots and tubers which are limited in micronutrients. Amidst Uganda producing abundance of fruits and vegetables which are sources of micronutrients, it seems that consumption patterns have a role to play. The aim of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the prevailing diets of women of reproductive age in Kayunga and Jinja districts. A cross- sectional study was conducted in August 2019. Four hundred and ninety two (492) women of reproductive age were purposively selected from the two sub-counties to participate in the study. A 24-hour recall questionnaire was used estimate the women’s minimum dietary diversity for women of reproductive age (MDD-W) and it is contribution towards meeting micronutrient requirements. Means were computed for continuous variables, while proportions were computed for the descriptive variables that were placed under different themes and categories. Results revealed that more than 80% of women did not achieve the minimum dietary diversity. Less than 50% of the women consumed foods from plant and animal protein rich food groups that are major sources of iron, zinc, calcium, and vitamin B-12. In addition, more than 80% of the women’s diets lacked vitamin A- rich fruits and vegetables and dark green leafy vegetables which are the rich food group sources for vitamin A and folate. Therefore, over 80% of the women in Kayunga and Jinja districts did not obtain the required micronutrients for their good health and that of their children and thus, are at risk of poor health due to micronutrient deficiencies. It is recommended to have nutrition education coupled with demonstrations to mothers on how to prepare a diversified diet. Key words: Women, dietary diversity, food groups, micronutrients, nutrient adequacy

Antioxidants rich natural fruit and synthetic fruit products

Antioxidants rich natural fruit and synthetic fruit products

Association of Women Leading Land Use with Energy and Nutrient Intakes Among Children Aged 6 to 59 Months in Oromia, Ethiopia

Nutrition-specific interventions alone will not help countries to end child malnutrition; nutrition-sensitive interventions such as women empowerment are also needed. Therefore, this cross sectional study was conducted to assess the association of women leading land use with nutrient intakes among children aged 6 to 59 months in Oromia, Ethiopia. Three hundred thirty-two caregivers participated in the study. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect data on background characteristics of child caregivers, women leading land use status, and caregivers’ exposure to mass media. Dietary assessment for nutrients intake was collected using a 24-hour recall. The survey data was analyzed using SPSS software version 25. Descriptive statistics were presented in frequency and percentages and in the form of mean ± SD. The nutrient intakes were compared with recommended dietary allowances to analyze the gap between the intakes and the recommendations were presented as percentages. Any difference in the variables was compared, based on women leading land use, using Chi square test and Mann Whitney u test, depending on the type of data. Results were considered statistically significant at P<0.05. Starchy staples were consumed by more than 90% of the children; close to ¾ of the children consumed legumes and nuts; animal source foods consumption was below 20% except dairy products (84%). Vitamin A rich fruits and vegetables were consumed by 33% of the children on average; and the minimum dietary diversity score was achieved by 48% of the children. The median energy intakes for children aged above a year and calcium intakes during the second half of the first year were more than 90%. On the other hand, the intakes of energy, at the stage of the second 6 months, fat, the calcium (>1 year) and the ascorbic acid intake were below 90%. Intake of Fat and Ascorbic acid was very low. Interestingly, iron intake for the children of 6-12 months age was more than 100%. However, there was statistical difference (p<0.05) in the proportion children of women with land leading power and without land leading power who consumed starchy staples, legumes and nuts, dairy products as well as ascorbic acid. Women empowerment in deciding land use issues affect about their child feeding practices and ultimately nutritional outcome and therefore, Women empowerment should be ensured for better child feeding practices and nutrients intake.

Microwave-vacuum extraction cum drying of tomato slices: Optimization and functional characterization.

Fruits and vegetables have shorter shelf life due to their perishable nature. Tomato, being a nutritionally rich fruit needs to be preserved for a longer period. In this context, this study was designed to dry the tomato slices through microwave-vacuum drying. This process was optimized for moisture ratio and drying rate using response surface methodology (RSM). The process was investigated at different power levels (30, 50, 80, and 100 W), pressure (0, 15, 20, and 25 inHg), and time (0, 4, 6, and 10 min) using Box-Behnken design. Results indicated that color, energy efficiency, and drying characteristics were significantly affected by changing power, vacuum levels, and processing time. Besides, nine mathematical models were applied on experimental data to deeply understand the moisture ratio of tomato slices. Amongst, Midilli model was found best to describe the drying process at 100 W and 25 inHg supported by R 2 (0.9989), RMSE (0.001), and X 2 (1.34e-4). This study was focused on finding the optimal combinations of power, vacuum pressure, and time for better drying and reduced wastage of the fruit owing to its perishable nature. From all the microwave powers, higher microwave power and vacuum level showed better energy consumption, energy efficiencies, color retention, and rehydration capacity.

Study on preparation technology for mango sour beer

Background. Mango sour beer was made from mango and malt. A sensory score was used as an index to study the effects of main fermentation temperature, Lactobacillus plantarum addition amount and fermentation tank pressure on the taste of mango sour beer. Material and methods. Based on the single-factor experiment, a response surface methodology was used to optimize the preparation process of mango sour beer. Results. The results showed that the optimum fermentation conditions were as follows: the main fermentation temperature was 25℃, the Lactobacillus plantarum content was 0.25 kg/KL and the fermenting pressure was 0.15 MPa. Conclusion. At this point, the mango sour beer was bright and golden, with a clear and transparent body, a rich fruit flavor, an outstanding sour flavor and a mellow wheat flavor, which provides a reference point for the subsequent optimization of the production process and the production of mango sour beer.

Physico and phytochemical standardization of nutritionally rich mulberry fruits (Morus indica Linn)

Due to their sweet flavor, impressive nutritional value, and various health benefits, mulberries are gaining popularity worldwide. Mulberries are colorful berries that are eaten both fresh and dried. They're a good source of iron, vitamin C, and several plant compounds and have been linked to lower cholesterol, blood sugar, and cancer risk. Mulberries are the fruits of mulberry trees (Morus sp.) and are related to figs and breadfruit. The trees are traditionally grown for their leaves mainly in Asia and North America as they’re the only food that silkworms eat. They carry colorful berries most commonly black, white, or red that are often made into wine, fruit juice, tea, jam, or canned foods, but can also be dried and eaten as a snack. Mulberries have a decent amount of fiber. The present communication carries an attempt to evaluate the study of phytochemical physicochemical parameters e. g. successive extractive values in different solvents, ash values, alcohol, water, and hexane soluble extractives, moisture contents, loss of weight on drying at 105oC, pH values of 1% and 10 % aqueous solutions, qualitative and quantitative mineral contents, and thin layer chromatography of different extracts. Besides, the qualitative and quantitative analysis of Phyto-constituents like alkaloids, total phenolics, tannins, sugar contents, crude fibers, proteins, and estimation of heavy metals, microbial loads, pesticide residues, and aflatoxins were also carried out which will be useful in the identification and control of the possible adulterations of the raw drug.

Evaluation of oil accumulation and biodiesel property of Lindera glauca fruits among different germplasms and revelation of high oil producing mechanism for developing biodiesel

BackgroundLindera glauca with rich resource and fruit oil has emerged as novel source of biodiesel in China, but different germplasms show a variation for fruit oil content and FA profile. To develop L. glauca fruit oils as biodiesel, a concurrent exploration of oil content, FA composition, biodiesel yield, fuel property and prediction model construction was conducted on the fruits from 8 plus germplasms to select superior genotype for ideal biodiesel production. Another vital focus was to highlight mechanism that govern the differences in oil content and FA profile of different germplasms. The cross-accessions comparisons associated with oil-synthesized gene transcriptional level and oil accumulative amount led to the identification of potential determinants (enzymes, transporters or transcription factors) and regulatory mechanisms responsible for high-quality oil accumulation.ResultsTo select superior germplasm and unravel regulatory mechanism of high oil production for developing L. glauca fruit oils as biodiesel, 8 plus trees (accession LG01/02/03/04/05/06/07/08) with high-yield fruits were selected to evaluate the differences in oil content, FA profile, biodiesel yield and fuel property, and to construct fuel property prediction model, revealing a variation in the levels of fruit oil (45.12–60.95%), monounsaturated FA (52.43–78.46%) and polyunsaturated FA (17.69–38.73%), and biodiesel yield (80.12–98.71%) across different accessions. Of note, LG06 had a maximum yield of oil (60.95%) and biodiesel (98.71%), and ideal proportions of C18:1 (77.89%), C18:2 (14.16%) and C18:3 (1.55%), indicating that fruit oils from accession LG06 was the most suitable for high-quality biodiesel production. To highlight molecular mechanism that govern such differences in oil content and FA composition of different accessions, the quantitative relationship between oil-synthesized gene transcription and oil accumulative amount were conducted on different accessions to identify some vital determinants (enzymes, transporters or transcription factors) with a model of carbon metabolic regulatory for high-quality oil accumulation by an integrated analysis of our recent transcriptome data and qRT-PCR detection. Our findings may present strategies for developing L. glauca fruit oils as biodiesel feedstock and engineering its oil accumulation.ConclusionsThis is the first report on the cross-accessions evaluations of L. glauca fruit oils to determine ideal accession for producing ideal biodiesel, and the associations of oil accumulative amount with oil-synthesized gene transcription was performed to identify some crucial determinants (enzymes, transporters or transcription factors) with metabolic regulation model established for governing high oil production. Our finding may provide molecular basis for new strategies of developing biodiesel resource and engineering oil accumulation.

Abstract C068: Vitamin C prediction of cancer diagnosis in men of African ancestry in Nigeria, Cameroon, and the United States: An analysis of the CaPTC prostate cancer study

Abstract Background: Vitamin C has long been recognized for its plethora of immune system and anti-inflammatory properties. Various cancers have been identified to have similarities in epigenetic inflammatory components. Because rates of prostate cancer have exhibited significant disparities in Black men with increased incidence and mortality, an examination of the intersection of diet, inflammation, and cancer and chronic disease diagnoses necessitates researchers to consider vitamin C. This study utilized data collected from the Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC) Familial Cohort Study, an ongoing longitudinal cohort study initiated in 2017 which explores risk factors of prostate cancer among African Black men in Nigeria, Cameroon, and the United States (U.S.). Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the consumption habits of vitamin C-rich foods in African Black men and determine if dietary patterns influenced risk of cancer diagnosis. Methodology: Descriptive analyses compared vitamin C-rich food consumption among the countries of Nigeria, Cameroon, and the U.S. Unadjusted logistic regression models were used to identify association of cancer diagnosis with consumption of vitamin C fruits and vegetables. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated. Results: From 803 unique participants included in this study, most resided in Nigeria (82.6%), were married (92.9%) with a median age of 50.7 years. Chi square tests revealed significant differences in dietary consumption of vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables among the three countries. Men in Nigeria presented with the highest weekly fruit consumption (p &amp;lt; 0.001). Men in the U.S. exhibited the greatest weekly vegetable consumption (p &amp;lt; 0.001), while men in Cameroon showed the least weekly consumption of both fruits and vegetable (p &amp;lt; 0.001). Fourteen Cameroon and zero U.S. men reported a cancer diagnosis. Logistic regression models were significant only for Nigeria where age (p &amp;lt; 0.001), leafy vegetable (0.04), berries (p = 0.05), and citrus fruit consumption (p = 0.04) were identified to be significant predictors of increased risk of cancer diagnoses. Conclusion: Regular consumption of vitamin C rich foods assists with reduction of inflammatory components that may contribute to cancer genesis. Dietary consumption patterns of vitamin C rich fruits and vegetables show significant disparities in Nigeria, Cameroon and the U.S. with men in Cameroon reporting the least weekly consumption of both vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables. Future investigation into revisiting these associations as well as including an assessment of access to quality nutrition in both cost and availability should be explored, as regular consumption of leafy vegetables, berries, and citrus fruit were found to significantly decrease risk of cancer diagnosis in this study. Citation Format: Jennifer M. Crook, Emeka Iweala, Ademola Popoola, Paul Jibrin, Mohammed Faruk, Anthonia Sowumi, Omolara Fatiregun, Nkegoum Blaise, Catherine Oladoyinbo, Ifeoma Okoye, Abdulkadir Ayo Salako, Abidemi Omonisi, Iya Eze Bassey, Kayode Adeniji, Nggada Haruna Asura, Ernest Kaninjing, Oluwole Kukoyi, Parisa Fathi, Ruth Enuka, Oluwaseyi Toye, CaPTC Investigators, Folakemi Odedina. Vitamin C prediction of cancer diagnosis in men of African ancestry in Nigeria, Cameroon, and the United States: An analysis of the CaPTC prostate cancer study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr C068.

Dietary Diversity and Nutritional Status of Adolescents in Rural Ghana.

The rapid biological and physical changes during adolescence require adequate nutrient intake. This study assessed dietary diversity and nutritional status of adolescents living in selected rural areas in Ghana. In this cross-sectional study, 137 young adolescents, aged 10 to 14 years were recruited. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic, household size and food intake practices. A multiple past 24-hour recall was used to estimate the micronutrients intake. Haemoglobin and anthropometry data were assessed. Dietary diversity score was assessed with 10 food groups described by Food and Agricultural Organization. Descriptive, chi-square, binary regression and partial correlation were used in the data analysis. The prevalence of underweight was 5.5%, overweight 5.8% and anaemia 29.9%. The mean dietary diversity score was 3.8 ± 0.8 and about 84.7% of participants had inadequate dietary diversity. Proportions of adolescents who consumed from the different food groups over a 24-hour period were: grains, white roots and tubers, plantain (100%); pulses (10.2%); nuts and seeds (34.1%); dairy (8%); meat, poultry and fish (86.9%); eggs (7.3%); dark green leafy vegetables (29.9%); other vitamin-A rich fruits and vegetables (2.2%); other vegetables (81%); other fruits (7.3%). Dietary diversity scores were positively and significantly correlated with intake of micronutrient, with correlation coefficients of .169, .186, .191, .173 and .175 for vitamin A, niacin, vitamin B6, iron and zinc, respectively. Meal skipping (AOR = 12.2, P < .001, 95% CI: 3.6-41.7) and snacking (AOR = 5.0, P = .007, 95% CI:1.6-16.7) increased odds of inadequate dietary diversity. The high prevalence of inadequate dietary diversity was positively related to meal skipping and snacking among adolescents. Dietary diversity score was significantly related to the intake of vitamin A, niacin, vitamin B6, iron and zinc. The prevalence of anaemia among our study participants is of public health concern. Adolescents should be encouraged both at home and school to eat from diverse food groups to promote adequate intake of micronutrients.

Validation of HPLC Method for Analysis of Gamma-Aminobutyric and Glutamic Acids in Plant Foods and Medicinal Plants.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system of mammals and plays an important role in the suppression of neurons' excitability. GABA is formed from the decarboxylation of glutamic acid (Glu), and both GABA and Glu could be considered as important biologically active food components. In the current study, we validated a HPLC method for concomitant detection of GABA and Glu in plant samples after derivatization with dansyl chloride. The validated method had high precision and a high recovery rate and was successfully used for GABA and Glu quantification in 55 plant foods (fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals, pseudocereals, and nuts) and 19 medicinal plants. Vegetables were the most important dietary source of these amino acids, with the highest quantity of GABA found in potatoes-44.86 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW) and yellow cherry tomatoes-36.82 mg/100 g FW. The highest amount of Glu (53.58 mg/100 g FW) was found in red cherry tomatoes. Analyzed fruits were relatively poor in GABA and Glu, and European gooseberry was the richest fruit with 13.18 mg/100 g FW GABA and 10.95 mg/100 g FW Glu. Cereals, pseudocereals, nuts, and legumes contain much higher amounts of Glu than GABA. The obtained results enrich the available information on the content of gamma-aminobutyric and glutamic acids in plant foods and could be used for the development of GABA-enriched functional foods.

Excessive consumption of the sugar rich longan fruit promoted the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via mediating gut dysbiosis

AbstractControversy exists as toward the association of excessive fruits intake and certain disease risks. Longan is an edible fruit rich in high levels of fructose, glucose and sucrose. Herein, the effect of longan fruit on the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was investigated. Longan extracts at the doses of 4.0 g/kg, 8.0, and 16.0 g/kg were orally administered for 4 weeks to healthy C57BL/6J mice or to C57BL/6J mice fed with a HFD diet. In mice fed with a normal diet, repeated longan intake for 4 weeks at excess doses (8 or 16 g/kg), but not the normal dose (4 g/kg), promoted inflammation and gut dysbiosis‐like status and reduced short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production. In high‐fat diet (HFD)‐fed mice, longan intake at 4 g/kg hardly influenced the NAFLD development. In contrast, excess longan intake (8 or 16 g/kg) promoted NAFLD pathogenesis, including increased abnormality in hepatic indices, elevated inflammation, and gut permeability associated with more severe liver steatosis and fibrosis. Moreover, the exacerbated pathogenic markers were positively correlated with increased blood sugar, aggravated HFD‐associated microbial dysbiosis. Effects mediated by excess longan intake resembled that of equivalent free sugars supplementation, suggesting that high level of free sugars in fruits contributed to the promotion of NAFLD development as demonstrated in case of excessive longan intake.