Sri Lankan Diet Research Articles

Metagenomic analysis of colonic tissue and stool microbiome in patients with colorectal cancer in a South Asian population

BackgroundThe gut microbiome is thought to play an important role in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, as the gut microbiome varies widely based on diet, we sought to investigate the gut microbiome changes in patients with CRC in a South Asian population.MethodsThe gut microbiome was assessed by 16s metagenomic sequencing targeting the V4 hypervariable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA in stool samples (n = 112) and colonic tissue (n = 36) in 112 individuals. The cohort comprised of individuals with CRC (n = 24), premalignant lesions (n = 10), healthy individuals (n = 50) and in those with diabetes (n = 28).ResultsOverall, the relative abundances of genus Fusobacterium (p < 0.001), Acinetobacter (p < 0.001), Escherichia-Shigella (p < 0.05) were significantly higher in gut tissue, while Romboutsia (p < 0.01) and Prevotella (p < 0.05) were significantly higher in stool samples. Bacteroides and Fusobacterium were the most abundant genera found in stool samples in patients with CRC. Patients with pre-malignant lesions had significantly high abundances of Christensenellaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Mollicutes and Ruminococcaceae (p < 0.001) compared to patients with CRC, and healthy individuals. Romboutsia was significantly more abundant (p < 0.01) in stool samples in healthy individuals compared to those with CRC and diabetes.ConclusionDespite marked differences in the Sri Lankan diet compared to the typical Western diet, Bacteroides and Fusobacterium species were the most abundant in those with CRC, with Prevotella species, being most abundant in many individuals. We believe these results pave the way for possible dietary interventions for prevention of CRC in the South Asian population.

Selection and optimisation of extraction technique for the preparation of phenolic- and flavonoid-rich extract of leafy vegetable, Coccinia grandis (Linn.) Voigt

Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt (family: Cucurbitaceae) is a popular leafy vegetable in Sri Lankan diet. C. grandis is high in phenolics and flavonoids. The present work attempted to determine a suitable extraction technique, and further optimise it to obtain phenolic- and flavonoid-rich extract from C. grandis leaves, with an aim at developing a nutraceutical targeting the dietary management of diabetes mellitus. Acetone extraction (AE), methanol extraction (ME), pre-warmed water extraction (PWE), electric shake extraction (ESE), reflux extraction (RE), ultrasonication with water (UEw), ultrasonication with ethanol (UEe), ultrasonic assisted-reflux extraction (URE), and reflux assisted-ultrasonic extraction (RUE) were chosen as the extraction techniques. URE was selected as a satisfactory extraction technique for further optimisation for the preparation of phenolic- and flavonoid-rich extract based on the contents of phenolics (32.97 ± 0.41 mg of equivalent gallic acid/g of extract) and flavonoids (4.50 ± 0.04 mg equivalent quercetin/g of extract). The highest yield of 32.8% was obtained by the URE technique. The optimal extraction conditions for URE were determined with an ultrasonic time of 19 min, refluxing time of 168 min, and liquid:solid ratio of 16.4 mL/g. This is the first attempt to investigate the selection and optimisation of an extraction technique for obtaining phenolic- and flavonoid-rich extract from C. grandis leaves. The present findings would be useful in the development of a commercially viable nutraceutical using a phenolic- and flavonoid-rich extract of C. grandis.

A sustainable way of increasing productivity of coconut cultivation using cover crops: A review

Coconut, as one of the main components of the daily Sri Lankan diet and one of the predominant crops grown in different agroecological zones except in higher elevations, has become a major export-earning crop at present. Its productivity is limited by adverse climatic changes in coconut growing areas, biotic and abiotic stresses, and poor agronomic practices. Cover cropping has been identified as a rewarding and time-tested farming solution that increases the productivity of most coconut lands while addressing the above issues. It is the practice of growing plants for modifying soil properties, controlling pests and diseases, facilitating crop growth and yield, reducing chemical dependency, enabling the coconut-animal farming system, and generating extra profit. Legumes, fodder and pasture grasses have been identified as the common and trending cover crops for Sri Lanka. Comprehensive knowledge of selecting suitable cover crops, planting materials and proper agronomic practices are important for a successful cover cropping system under coconut. Farmers avoid this practice due to their ignorance on cover cropping, and its benefits, and due to the aggressive characteristics of cover crops such as reappearing behaviour, being an alternative host for pathogens, and competitiveness for natural resources. In this review, the unique attributes of common cover crop species were explained. Furthermore, the variety of on-farm benefits and ecosystem services of cover cropping and some important agronomic considerations were reviewed. Finally, future research potential for recommending new species and their adaptability to a wide range of ecological and ecosystem circumstances under coconut cultivation were investigated.

A case of transient hyperphosphatasemia presenting with mild degree of bow legs

Introduction: Transient Hyperphosphatasia (TH) is a benign condition in which serum Alkaline Phosphatase is elevated without any underlying pathology. This is mainly seen in children compared to adults and it is usually an incidental finding. The hallmark of the condition is that normalization of ALP level will with time. However, not knowing the entity would lead to unnecessary investigations and referrals. Here we report a child with TH who presents with a mild degree of bow legs. Case report: A 1year and 8 months old boy was brought by his mother with a concern of bow legs. He was the first child born to non-consanguineous healthy parents following normal antenatal and perinatal periods. His birth weight was 3.5kg and he was growing in his birth centile. He had age-appropriate development and parents had been having a concern about bow legs after he started walking. He is getting an average Sri Lankan diet with animal food and he gets adequate sun exposure as well. There was no history to suggest the liver of renal diseases. On examination, he had a mild degree of bow legs without any features to suggest rickets. His cardiovascular, respiratory, abdominal, and neurology exams were normal. His bone profile showed a high value of ALP (3782 U/L) with normal calcium, phosphate, and vitamin D levels. Due to high ALP levels, he underwent liver and renal functions and that was within the normal range. The diagnosis was made as TH and he was followed up monthly with ALP values. He had a downward trend of ALP levels and in 3 months the ALP value dropped to (580 U/L). Parents were reassured about the condition and the diagnosis was confirmed as TH. Conclusion: It is important to rule out, bone, kidney, or a liver pathology if a child has markedly elevated ALP levels. However, it is important to recognize this entity to avoid unnecessary procedures and concerns.

Changes in Food Consumption Patterns in Sri Lanka: Food Security and Sustainability: A Review of Literature

Food is one of the basic necessities that play a major role in human life. Over the past two decades, food consumption patterns in many countries have changed rapidly. The concern of food security has emerged as a global food crisis in recent decades. These global changes probably affect Sri Lankan food consumption habits. Sustainability is an essential component and a precondition for long-term food security. Hence, this study used an in-depth non-systematic literature review on a global scale emphasizing the Sri Lankan context, to better understand the situation of changes in food consumption patterns using comprehensive household survey data in Sri Lanka. The study found out that income growth, urbanization, structural changes in the population on demographics, and several other socio-economic changes significantly influenced transformations in global food consumption patterns. Other than these, many significant differences are evident in food consumption patterns especially geographically, in urban, rural, and estate sectors in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan diet shows a tendency to shift from traditional cereal consumption to meat, fish, dairy products, and fast foods and processed foods, posing a significant threat concerning the future food security and sustainability of Sri Lanka. Therefore, the study recommended a critical analysis of changes in food consumption patterns in Sri Lanka.

Food labour, consumption hierarchies, and diet decision-making in Sri Lankan households: a qualitative study

BackgroundSri Lanka faces the double burden of over- and undernutrition. To tackle this dual challenge, double duty interventions that improve the quality of the Sri Lankan diet in line with national dietary guidelines have been suggested. The success of these interventions depends upon an understanding of the context-specific factors that impact their uptake within the population. The purpose of this study was threefold: explore household responsibility for food-related labour; understand food decision-making influences; and investigate consumption hierarchies that might impact the distribution of intervention benefits.MethodsWe conducted face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 93 Sri Lankan adults residing in urban Colombo (n = 56), and urban and rural sectors in Kalutara (n = 29) and Trincomalee (n = 8). Interview data were analysed thematically.ResultsFindings from this study suggest that women in Sri Lanka continue to shoulder the burden of food-related labour disproportionately to men but that this responsibility is not always a proxy for dietary decision-making power. While men are often absent from the kitchen, their role in food purchasing and payment is prominent in many households. Despite these observed gender differences in food labour and provisioning, “traditional” age- and gender-based consumption hierarchies with negative nutrition consequences for women and children are not common, indicating that Sri Lankan ‘table culture’ may be changing.ConclusionDietary interventions with the aim of influencing day-to-day practice should be developed with an awareness of who is responsible for, who is able to perform, and who influences targeted behaviours.

Nutrient composition of 19 fish species from Sri Lanka and potential contribution to food and nutrition security

Fish is an important part of the Sri Lankan diet. However, existing data on the nutrient composition of fish in Sri Lanka is highly outdated and limited. The aim of this study was to report the nutrient composition of commonly consumed marine fish species in Sri Lanka and assess the potential contribution of selected key nutrients in fish to recommended nutrient intakes (RNI). Fish were sampled during a survey with research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen around Sri Lanka. Species were categorised as either small (<25 cm, n = 12) or large (>25 cm, n = 7), and three composite samples from each species were analysed using accredited methods. Small species commonly consumed whole contained significantly higher concentrations of micronutrients such as calcium (960 mg/100 g), iron (3.3 mg/100 g), zinc (2.1 mg/100 g), vitamin A (295 μg/100 g), and EPA and DHA (0.14 and 0.32 g/100 g, respectively) than larger species where only the fillet is consumed. Several species were identified to contribute ≥25 % of the RNI of women of reproductive age for multiple essential nutrients. These data may represent an important contribution to the future development of the Sri Lankan food composition database.

The Cost of Climate Change to Agricultural Industries: Coconuts in Sri Lanka

Agriculture in low latitude countries such as Sri Lanka is already operating at the maximum temperature limits for crop growth and faces increased production risk from expected climate change. Sri Lanka is a developing country with limited economic and technological capacity to develop adaptation strategies; hence more vulnerable to climate change than developed countries. Coconut (Cocos nucifera L) is a rain fed perennial crop important in Sri Lankan culture, food consumption and the economy. It is the second most important food in the Sri Lankan diet after rice. Several studies have examined the impact of climate change on Sri Lankan agriculture, but none were conducted to simulate the impact of future climate change and future adaptation strategies on coconut production, or to calculate the economic welfare effects for different stakeholders in the coconut value chain. In this paper we report the development of an economic model of the coconut value chain that allows prediction of welfare impacts, and a quantitative representation of coconut yield that allows prediction of the impact of changing climatic conditions. The average outcome of 16 climate models was used to generate future climatic conditions, with two future climatic scenarios for 2020, 2030 and 2050 considered for three production regions. The most important yield estimate was a yield decline of more than 10 percent in the wet climatic zone due to the expected increase of maximum temperature. Without extra adaptation measures this is predicted to result in a loss to the industry of 4,795 Rs. Million annually by 2020, which is nearly 4.7 percent of the total value of the industry at equilibrium prices and quantities. The negative impact of climate change has the potential to be reduced with the implementation of additional adaptation practices. However, the cost effectiveness of these practices needs to be considered. Wider adoption of fertilizer application at specific times and moisture conservation practices are estimated to be economically beneficial.

ESTIMATION OF BIOACCUMULATION, TRANSLOCATION AND DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS OF CADMIUM AND LEAD IN COMMONLY CONSUMED GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES IN COLOMBO DISTRICT, SRI LANKA

Green Leafy Vegetables (GLV) are a key component of the Sri Lankan diet. However, GLV are identified as good heavy metal accumulators, which in turns causes potential health risks for consumers through food chain contaminations. The present study aimed to investigate the bioaccumulation, translocation and distribution patterns of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in five key Sri Lankan GLV [Kankun (Ipomoea aquatica), “Mukunuwenna (Alternanthera sessilis), “Thampala” (Amaranthus viridis), “Nivithi” (Basella alba) and “Kohila” (Lasia spinosa)] grown in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. The levels of Cd and Pb in different plant parts (roots, stems and leaves) and the soil underneath were determined using the inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and the bioaccumulation and translocation factors of heavy metals from soil to different plants parts (roots, stems, leaves), were calculated to identify the hyper accumulative species. Irrespective of the species and the location, GLV showed the distribution pattern for Cd and Pb as: roots>stems>leaves. In all the analyzed GLV, roots have accumulated significantly higher concentrations (at P 1. Thus, Lasia spinosa has the potential to use in phytoextraction purposes in future, though it is not safe to consume as a day to day food item. Article DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.20319/mijst.2018.42.93112 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.

Probiotic foods: Benefits to the cereal based Sri Lankan diet

The Ceylon Journal of Science is a peer-reviewed journal published quarterly by the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka in March, June, September and December. It is aimed at publishing high quality research articles on topics related to different disciplines in Science. The journal accepts original research articles, book reviews, reviews and mini-reviews, short communications, opinions, research notes, and commentaries and notes. The Journal has its own website https://site.pdn.ac.lk/cjs/. The journal strictly adheres to publication ethics as emphasized by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). It is indexed in Sri Lanka Journals Online (SLJOL), Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Google Scholar and Zoological Records. According to the Google Scholar;H5-Index: 12H5-Median: 15According to the Exaly (1970 – 2021);Impact Factor: 0.6 (top 19%)Extended IF: 0.6 (top 19%)H-Index: 8 (top 28%)Citations/paper: 1.42

The Economic Cost of Climate Change and the Benefits from Investments in Adaptation Options for Sri Lankan Coconut Value Chains

Agriculture in low latitude countries such as Sri Lanka is already operating at the maximum temperature limits for crop growth and face increased production risk from expected climate change. Sri Lanka is a developing country with limited economic and technological capacity to develop adaptation strategies; hence more vulnerable to climate change than developed countries. Coconut (Cocos nucifera L) is a rain fed perennial crop important in Sri Lankan culture, food consumption and the economy. It is the second most important food in the Sri Lankan diet after rice. Several studies have examined the impact of climate change on Sri Lankan agriculture, but none were conducted to simulate the impact of future climate change and future adaptation strategies on coconut production, or to calculate the economic welfare effects for different stakeholders in the coconut value chain. In this paper we report the development of an economic model of the coconut value chain that allows prediction of welfare impacts, and a quantitative representation of coconut yield that allows the impact of changing climatic conditions on yield. The average outcome of 16 climate models was used to generate future climatic conditions, with two future climatic scenarios for 2020, 2030 and 2050 considered for three production regions. The most important yield estimate was a yield decline of more than 10 percent in the wet zone with the expected increase of maximum temperature. Without extra adaptation measures this is predicted to result in a loss to the industry of 4,795 Rs.Million annually by 2020, which is nearly 4.7 percent of the total value of the industry at equilibrium. The negative impact of climate change has the potential to be reduced with the implementation of additional adaptation practices. However, the cost effectiveness of these practices needs to be considered in comparing the practices. Wider adoption of fertilizer application at specific times and moisture conservation practices are estimated to be economically beneficial.

The value of enhancing nutrient bioavailability of lentils: The Sri Lankan scenario

Lentil ( Lens culinaris Medic.) is a pulse crop that belongs to the family Leguminosae . Lentils are rich in proteins, have 18 of the 20 amino acids including all 8 essential amino acids and provide a number of essential minerals and vitamins. Thus, lentils occupy an important place in the human diet, especially in developing countries, as a rich source of protein, vitamins and minerals. Although in many developing countries in Asia rice contributes significantly to human daily energy and nutritional requirements, its amino acid profile shows that rice lacks some essential amino acids. Therefore, given their rich composition of amino acids, lentils could act as an ideal supplement for rice-based diets. Although all red lentils are imported, they are the most widely consumed pulse among Sri Lankans. Red lentil consumption levels are significantly greater in the estate sector where the prevalence of under nutrition is high. Thus, t his review was undertaken to understand the potential role of lentils in the Sri Lankan diet and how lentils can potentially be utilized to meet the nutritional needs of Sri Lankans. The study was based on an extensive literature review and information obtained thro ugh personal interviews with key participants in the red lentil industry of Sri Lanka. It was evident that red lentils are a rich source of nutrients, especially micro-nutrients, but their bioavailability is poor due to the presence of multiple anti-nutritive factors such as protease inhibitors, phenolic compounds and phytates. Although bioavailability of nutrients can be enhanced by changing food processing techniques, fortification and bio-fortification, lentil cooking patterns in Sri Lanka pose difficulties in adopting changed food processing techniques and fortification. Thus, bio-fortification would be the most viable option for enhancing nutrient availability in lentils. Since Sri Lanka does not produce lentils, such initiatives may have to be undertaken in exportin g countries or in collaboration with international agricultural research centres. Any strategic investments in breeding new lentil varieties with high bioavailability would provide exporting countries a unique competitive edge in export markets. Such improvements would meet the nutritional needs, not only of Sri Lankans, but also of mil lions other Asian consumers who face similar nutritional challenges.

Salt Based Dry Fish Processing and Marketing by Fishers of Minneriya Reservoir in Sri Lanka

Fish represent a major source of animal protein in the Sri Lankan diet. However, it is more susceptible to spoilage than other animal food. The objectives of this study were to determine the scientific basis of the preparation and the selection of freshwater fish species for dry fish production and to analyze the profitability of dry fish marketing in Minneriya. Data were collected by on-site observations and interviews with randomly selected five dry fish sellers, twenty involved fishermen and fifty consumers using a semistructured questionnaire. Salting and sun drying are the main fish preservation methods in this area and consumer preference for dry fish is significantly high. For processing, small (6.875-8.750 cm) and damaged fish are collected, split ventrally, and the gut and skin are removed completely. Fish are then washed thoroughly and salted at a ratio of 1:3 (salt:fish), mixed well and packed into plastic buckets (20L) and kept for 2-3 day. The salted fish are then spread on large stones and sun dried. Puntius filamentosus, Oreochromis mossambicus, O. niloticus, Glossogobius giuris, Channa striatus, Hyporhamphus limbatus and Etroplus suratensis are used for dry fish preparation. Carcass recovery of fish was 33.3%. Dry fish was sold to grocery stores at Minneriya and to the Dambulla market, with a profit of Rs. 255/- per kg and a market margin of 72.9%. The findings indicate that dry fish marketing is a profitable, low cost option for small-scale producers in Minneriya. The quality of the final product could be improved by educating fishermen to use clean water and quality salt for processing and by introducing simple equipment such as solar or artificial dryers for drying, thus preventing contamination and dependence on weather conditions. Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 23 (4): 357-362 (2012) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tar.v23i4.4871

Mineral bioavailability in three locally consumed pulses processed using popular methods: interpreted using molar ratios with phytic acid

Pulses, an essential component of the Sri Lankan diet, have high levels of phytic acid (PA) which chelate essential mineral nutrients limiting their bioavailability. Three locally grown pulses; mung beans, black gram and soya bean were investigated to determine the effects of popular processing methods on their Zn, Fe and Ca bioavailability as affected mainly by phytic acid (PA). Processed mung beans (Vigna radiata var. MI 6) and black gram (Vigna mungo var. MI 1) had very high levels of PA. In mung beans, with increasing germination time, a significant decrease (P=0.05) in PA from 2517 to 1998 mg per 100g (dry weight basis) was observed but PA:Zn molar ratio did not improve. Natural fermentation of black gram, did not affect PA level effectively, but levels decreased when inoculated with a lactic acid bacterium or with Pantoea agglomerans. In soya bean (Glycine max var. Pb), significant (P=0.05) reduction in PA was observed in tempeh (487 mg/100 g dry weight). Overall, in soya products, the Zn bioavailability has increased from low to moderate levels in both tofu and tempeh. The molar ratio of PA:Fe was lower in all soya products. Although, PA:Zn molar ratio has decreased in germinated mung beans, the Ca x PA:Zn ratio exceeded 0.5 indicating that Ca influences Zn bioavailability DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/cjsbs.v41i1.4534 Ceylon Journal of Science (Bio. Sci.) 41 (1): 19-26, 2012

Selenium and iodine in soil, rice and drinking water in relation to endemic goitre in Sri Lanka

Endemic goitre has been reported in the climatic wet zone of south-west Sri Lanka for the past 50 years, but rarely occurs in the northern dry zone. Despite government-sponsored iodised salt programmes, endemic goitre is still prevalent. In recent years, it has been suggested that Se deficiency may be an important factor in the onset of goitre and other iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Prior to the present study, environmental concentrations of Se in Sri Lanka and the possible relationships between Se deficiency and endemic goitre had not been investigated. During the present study, chemical differences in the environment (measured in soil, rice and drinking water) and the Se-status of the human population (demonstrated by hair samples from women) were determined for 15 villages. The villages were characterised by low (<10%), moderate (10–25%) and high (>25%) goitre incidence (NIDD, MIDD and HIDD, respectively). Results show that concentrations of soil total Se and iodine are highest in the HIDD villages, however, the soil clay and organic matter content appear to inhibit the bioavailability of these elements. Concentrations of iodine in rice are low (≤58 ng/g) and rice does not provide a significant source of iodine in the Sri Lankan diet. High concentrations of iodine (up to 84 μg/l) in drinking water in the dry zone may, in part, explain why goitre is uncommon in this area. This study has shown for the first time that significant proportions of the Sri Lankan female population may be Se deficient (24, 24 and 40% in the NIDD, MIDD and HIDD villages, respectively). Although Se deficiency is not restricted to areas where goitre is prevalent, a combination of iodine and Se deficiency could be involved in the pathogenesis of goitre in Sri Lanka. The distribution of red rice cultivation in Sri Lanka is coincident with the HIDD villages. Varieties of red rice grown in other countries contain anthocyanins and procyanidins, compounds which in other foodstuffs are known goitrogens. The potential goitrogenic properties of red rice in Sri Lanka are presently unknown and require further investigation. It is likely that the incidence of goitre in Sri Lanka is multi-factorial, involving trace element deficiencies and other factors such as poor nutrition and goitrogens in foodstuffs.