Recommended Dietary Allowance Research Articles

A novel method for analyzing mineral ratio profiles of treated buckwheat sprouts (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench)

The assessment of the individual nutrient content is not a sufficient tool for a comprehensive assessment of the plant raw material as it does not take into account the relationship between the nutrients. The study proposes new methods of modifying the mineral composition of buckwheat sprouts using plant growth promoters (PGP) and biological control agents (BCA) and new methods of assessing this composition using mineral quotients (Cohen's profile similarity coefficient (rc) and principal component analyses (PCA)). Based on the analyzes, the profiles of the mineral composition of buckwheat sprouts were grouped and their distinctiveness from the control profile was confirmed. Based on the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), Adequate Intake (AI) and Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL), a standard profile of mineral ratios was established, which allowed to refer the mineral composition of sprouts directly to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The difference between the standard profile of mineral ratios and the ratio profiles of sprouts treated with PGP and / or BCA was shown. This methodological approach broadened the possibilities of assessing the mineral composition of plant materials, especially in the context of the expectations of specific target groups.

Selenium intakes and plasma selenium of New Zealand toddlers: secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial.

Little is known about Se intakes and status in very young New Zealand children. However, Se intakes below recommendations and lower Se status compared with international studies have been reported in New Zealand (particularly South Island) adults. The Baby-Led Introduction to SolidS (BLISS) randomised controlled trial compared a modified version of baby-led weaning (infants feed themselves rather than being spoon-fed), with traditional spoon-feeding (Control). Weighed 3-d diet records were collected and plasma Se concentration measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In total, 101 (BLISS n 50, Control n 51) 12-month-old toddlers provided complete data. The OR of Se intakes below the estimated average requirement (EAR) was no different between BLISS and Control (OR: 0·89; 95 % CI 0·39, 2·03), and there was no difference in mean plasma Se concentration between groups (0·04 μmol/l; 95 % CI -0·03, 0·11). In an adjusted model, consuming breast milk was associated with lower plasma Se concentrations (-0·12 μmol/l; 95 % CI -0·19, -0·04). Of the food groups other than infant milk (breast milk or infant formula), 'breads and cereals' contributed the most to Se intakes (12 % of intake). In conclusion, Se intakes and plasma Se concentrations of 12-month-old New Zealand toddlers were no different between those who had followed a baby-led approach to complementary feeding and those who followed traditional spoon-feeding. However, more than half of toddlers had Se intakes below the EAR.

Nutritional and Quality Characteristics of Some Foods Fortified with Dried Mushroom Powder as a Source of Vitamin D

Vitamin D plays a vital role in synthesizing calcium-carrying proteins in the small intestine and helps the absorption of calcium in the body, thus reducing the risk of rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults, especially in women. So, the objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional value and quality characteristics of some food products such as waffles, breadsticks and salad cream fortified with dried mushroom powder (DMP) after exposure to sunlight for 60 min as a source of vitamin D. The exposure of mushroom to sunlight for 60 min before drying increased its content of vitamin D by 158% more than fresh mushroom (not exposed to sunlight). The DMP was added to the product's formula by a ratio of 1, 2, and 3%. The addition of DMP increased protein, ash, fat, and vitamin D2 and D3 contents in all products, while carbohydrates and moisture contents were decreased in both waffles, and breadsticks. The hardness of both waffles and breadsticks was decreased with increasing the levels of DMP added, while the addition of DMP led to enhance bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in all products. The sensory evaluation of waffles, breadsticks, and salad cream containing DMP was not changed than control sample. The results found that the intake of 100 g of salad cream, waffles, and breadstick (containing 3% DMP) could by providing more than the recommended daily allowances (RDA) of vitamin D. Therefore, this study recommended the use of DMP (by a ratio of 3%) in fortifying food products in order to meet the RDA of vitamin D.

Heavy Metals Accumulation in Tissues of Wild and Farmed Barramundi from the Northern Bay of Bengal Coast, and Its Estimated Human Health Risks.

Globally, both natural water bodies and aquaculture systems are being severely contaminated by heavy metals due to rising anthropogenic activities. Fish living in aquatic environments can easily accumulate metals in their bodies, which can then be transferred to consumers and put them at risk. In this study, metal concentrations (Pb, Cd, Cr, As, Mn, Cu, Zn) in different organs (gill, liver, and muscle) of farmed and wild Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) fish from the northern Bay of Bengal were evaluated to quantify and compare contamination levels and related human health risk. Heavy metal concentrations were higher in liver tissues of farmed Barramundi than in wild Barramundi, with the following relative mean values in the liver, gills, and muscle: Zn > Cu > Pb > Mn > Cd > Cr > As; Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Mn > Cd > As; Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Mn > Cd > As; Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Mn > Cd > As; and Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Mn > Cd > As, respectively. The differences in heavy metal accumulation observed between farmed and wild fish were probably related to the differences in their environmental conditions and dietary element concentrations. However, ANOVA indicated that the variation of metals in wild and Barramundi was not statically significant. Pb concentrations in the liver tissue of farmed Barramundi exceeded the national and international threshold limits, whereas concentrations of other metals were within the limit. Among the examined organs in both fish species (wild and farmed), muscle had the lowest concentration compared to others, and liver was the target organ for Pb, Cu, and Cd accumulations. Metals such as Zn and Mn exhibited higher concentration in the gills. However, all the studied heavy metals were below the maximum permissible limits of national and international standards, but the mean concentrations of Pb and Cd values in the liver of farmed Barramundi exceeded all international and national guidelines. Based on the contamination factors (CF) and pollution indices (PLI and MPI), the degree of contamination in the fish organs was as follows: gills > liver > muscle. The major accumulation tissues for both farmed and wild fish were found to be the gills (MPI = 0.970) and the liver (MPI = 0.692). Based on the estimated daily intake (EDI), the fish samples examined in this study are safe for human consumption as within the recommended daily allowance (RDA) range established by various authorities. According to the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Carcinogenic Risk (CR) calculations, though the Barramundi fishes depicted no potential hazard to humans, farmed fish posed a higher health risk than wild fish.

Processing Techniques affects the Vitamin Quality of Edible Insects – Potential for Use in Complementary Foods

Aims: To assess the vitamin content of locusts, lake flies, grasshoppers, and termites when fresh, sun-dried, oven-dried, and defatted.
 Study Design: Whole insect samples were sun-dried and oven-dried. Due to their high-fat content, termites and grasshoppers were subjected to an additional defatting step after the sun-drying and oven-drying.
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Kenyatta University's food science lab from August to December 2020.
 Methodology: Prepared insect samples were ground and analyzed for vitamins using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Analysis was done in triplicates and results were expressed in mg/100g of dry insect sample.
 Results: Fresh insect samples had higher vitamin concentrations compared to the processed samples. For ascorbic acid, there was no significant difference between; a) sun-dried and defatted sun-dried termites (p=0.79), b) oven-dried and defatted oven-dried termites (p=0.51), c) defatted oven-dried and defatted sun-dried grasshoppers (p=0.22) and d) sun-dried, and defatted oven-dried grasshoppers (p=0.59). For thiamine, pyridoxine, riboflavin, and α-tocopherol there was a significant difference for all the samples in all the insects (p<0.0001). For niacin, fresh, sun-dried, oven-dried, and defatted oven-dried termites showed no significant difference in concentration (p=0.22). However, there was a significant difference for the other insects (p<0.0001). For beta-carotene, only oven-dried and sun-dried grasshoppers didn’t significantly differ (p=0.76). Degradation for water-soluble vitamins was highest in sun-dried samples, while fat-soluble vitamins were highest in oven-dried samples.
 Conclusion: Fresh insects contain vitamins that meet the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) values for children up to 36 months, except for beta-carotene. Processing significantly reduces the vitamin levels to below RDA values except for ascorbic acid, thiamine, and alpha-tocopherol in lake flies and termites, which can be used to formulate complementary foods to meet 100% of the RDA.

A randomized control trial of high-dose micronutrient-antioxidant supplementation in healthy persons with untreated HIV infection

Although micronutrient and antioxidant supplementation are widely used by persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a therapeutic role beyond recommended daily allowances (RDA) remains unproven. An oral high-dose micronutrient and antioxidant supplement (Treatment) was compared to an RDA supplement (Control) for time to progressive immunodeficiency or initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in people living with HIV (PLWH). This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trial. PLWH were recruited from Canadian HIV Trials Network sites, and followed quarterly for two years. Eligible participants were asymptomatic, antiretroviral treatment (ART)-naïve, HIV-seropositive adults with a CD4 T lymphocyte count (CD4 count) between 375-750 cells/μL. Participants were randomly allocated 1:1 to receive Treatment or Control supplements. The primary outcome was a composite of time-to-first of confirmed CD4 count below 350 cells/μL, initiation of ART, AIDS-defining illness or death. Primary analysis was by intention-to-treat. Secondary outcomes included CD4 count trajectory from baseline to ART initiation or two years. A Data and Safety Monitoring Board reviewed the study for safety, recruitment and protocol adherence every six months. Of 171 enrolled participants: 66 (38.6%) experienced a primary outcome: 27 reached a CD4 count below 350 cells/μL, and 57 started ART. There was no significant difference in time-to-first outcome between groups (Hazard Ratio = 1.05; 95%CI: 0.65, 1.70), or in time to any component outcome. Using intent-to-treat censoring, mean annualized rates of CD4 count decline were -42.703 cells/μL and -79.763 cells/μL for Treatment and Control groups, with no statistical difference in the mean change between groups (-37.06 cells/μL/52 weeks, 95%CI: (-93.59, 19.47); p = 0.1993). Accrual was stopped at 171 of the 212 intended participants after an interim analysis for futility, although participant follow-up was completed. In ART-naïve PLWH, high-dose antioxidant, micronutrient supplementation compared to RDA supplementation had no significant effect on disease progression or ART initiation. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00798772.

Trends in Iodine Status Among U.S. Children and Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data from 2001–2004 to 2017–2020

Background: Iodine nutrition is an important public health issue. Trends in iodine status over time among U.S. schoolchildren and adults and factors mediating changes of iodine status were examined. Methods: In this cross-sectional study of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, we estimated trends in the U.S. population using linear regression analyses. Representative samples of U.S. children and adults were enrolled in NHANES 2001-2020. The NHANES cycles were categorized into 5 four-year periods: 2001-2004, 2005-2008, 2009-2012, 2013-2016, and 2017-2020. The final sample sizes of children and adults for analysis were 4288 and 19,661, respectively. The estimated average requirement (EAR) (based on guidelines from the Institute of Medicine), was used to estimate the prevalence rate of inadequate iodine intake. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association between iodine status and contributing factors. Results: From 2001-2004 to 2017-2020, among children, urinary iodine concentration (UIC) decreased from 243 to 166 μg/L (ptrend = 0.0057) and prevalence of iodine intake below the EAR rose from 15.4% to 27.6%. In adults, the UIC decreased from 153 to 116 μg/L (ptrend < 0.001) and prevalence of iodine intake below the EAR rose from 15.0% to 17.9%. A higher prevalence rate of iodine intake below the EAR was observed in females compared with males (children, 24.0% vs. 16.5%, p < 0.001; adults, 20.0% vs. 11.1%, p < 0.001). Inadequate iodine intake was less frequent among non-Hispanic White and Hispanic compared with non-Hispanic Black in children and adults. Adults without thyroid problems had a higher prevalence of inadequate iodine intake than those with thyroid problems (16.0% vs. 13.0%, p = 0.001). Inadequate iodine intake was less likely in the children who "sometimes" and "often" consumed milk products compared with children who "never or rarely" consumed milk products (OR = 0.60 [CI 0.30-1.21] and OR = 0.24 [CI 0.13-0.43], respectively). The prevalence of inadequate iodine intake among adults reporting "sometimes" (OR = 0.70 [CI 0.58-0.83]) and "often" consuming milk products was lower than those who "never or rarely" consumed them (OR = 0.36 [CI 0.30-0.44]). Conclusions: In this weighted survey, the prevalence of inadequate iodine intake increased from 2001-2004 to 2017-2020 among U.S. school-age children and adults. Sex, race, thyroid problems, and a decreased intake of milk products were significantly associated with iodine intake below the EAR.

Foods for Special Medical Purposes in Home Enteral Nutrition-Clinical Practice Experience. Multicenter Study.

BackgroundEnteral nutrition (EN) with foods for special medical purposes (FSMP) is recommended for most patients on home enteral nutrition (HEN). Although there are disease-specific guidelines for energy, protein, and micronutrient provision, only a few studies are showing real-life experience in the long-term use of FSMP.MethodsIn a multicenter study, the influence of the FSMP composition and administration technique (bolus vs. continuous) on protein and energy provision in HEN was analyzed. Provision of vitamins and minerals was compared to recommended daily allowance (RDA) and upper tolerable limit (UL).ResultsApproximately, 772 patients on HEN, mostly (88.6%) with oncological and neurological diseases, were enrolled. The patients on standard FSMP received less protein and energy than those on hypercaloric and protein enriched despite receiving higher volumes of EN (p < 0.05). No differences were observed in jejunal feeding with oligomeric vs. polymeric FSMP in terms of energy, protein, and volume. Continuous gastric feeding provided more protein, energy, and volume vs. bolus feeding (p < 0.05). Significant number of patients received less than 100% RDA of vitamin D (50.5%), vitamin B3 (49%), vitamin K (21.8%), vitamin B5 (64.3%), vitamin B9 (60%). Majority of the patients received less than 100% RDA of sodium (80.2%), potassium (99%), chloride (98%), calcium (67%), magnesium (87%), fluoride (99%), and iodine (43%). Approximately, 43.63% of cancer and 49.9% of neurological patients received less than 1 g/kg/day of protein and 51.7% of cancer and 55.5% of neurological patients received less than 25 kcal/kg/day.ConclusionAwareness of the available compositions of FSMP and advantageous profiles of specific diets may lead to the implementation of recommendations for EN. HEN professionals need to analyze all the patient’s needs and requirements to provide more tailored matching of nutritional support.

P111 Five-a-Day: Medically Tailored Meal Program Supports Intake of Recommended Fruit and Vegetable Servings

<h3>Objective</h3> Assess intake of fruits and vegetables during participation in The Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA, Philadelphia, PA) community-based medically tailored meal program for individuals with serious illness. <h3>Use of Theory or Research</h3> Meals provided by MANNA include levels of fruits and vegetables that follow evidence-based guidelines. There is a need to determine whether individuals receiving such meals do, in fact, consume the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables and corresponding nutrients. <h3>Target Audience</h3> The sample consists of individuals (n = 204) who received meals from MANNA from January through March of 2021. Individuals were contacted by phone to take a ten-question survey. The 204 individuals who completed the survey were 59% female with an average age of 61.7 years. <h3>Program Description</h3> MANNA is a "Food is Medicine" program that provides 21 medically tailored meals/week to community members with serious illness. Individuals are offered nutrition counseling from a Registered Dietitian. The program is short-term, averaging 3-6 months. The goal is for individuals to achieve adequate nutritional status and be able to follow their prescribed diet independently. <h3>Evaluation Methods</h3> The Block Fruit-Vegetable-Fiber Screener (NutritionQuest) was used for assessment of dietary intake. Daily servings of fruits and vegetables and intake of dietary fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium were calculated using prediction equations provided by NutritionQuest. <h3>Results</h3> Mean fruit and vegetable intake was 4.7 and 4.9 servings per day for females and males, respectively. Fiber intake was 12.5 g/day for females and 17.2 g/day for males. Intakes of vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium were 130.6, 300.0, and 2966.3 mg/day, respectively, for females and 151.6, 384.5, and 3643.0 mg/day, respectively, for males. <h3>Conclusions</h3> MANNA's medically tailored meal program supports recommended intakes of fruits and vegetables (5/day). Recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for vitamin C and potassium were also met. Magnesium intake was slightly below and fiber intake was significantly below the RDA. Adding menu items with more whole grains and legumes may help increase intake of magnesium and fiber. <h3>Funding</h3> None

Banana (Musa acuminata), Orange (Citrus reticulata), and Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Peels as Prebiotic

Fruit waste is being studied as a non-conventional alternative source of nutritional and mineral content that might be employed as functional food ingredients. This study aims to identify the 1) proximate and mineral composition of banana, orange and watermelon waste powder subjected to different drying methods; 2) prebiotic potential of the fruit waste powder (FWP) in growth enhancement of the probiotic Lactobacillus casei. The fruit peels were processed by two methods: freeze-dried and oven-dried. All FWP was sterilised and milled into particle size &lt;180μm. The proximate (total ash, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre), mineral (Ca, Zn, Na, K, Mg, Cu) profiling was analysed in triplicate according to standard. Prebiotic activities of FWP were determined through the growth of L. casei analysed. Significant differences (p&lt;0.05) result was observed between the proximate and mineral parameters in all FWP. Watermelon FWP had the highest moisture, ash, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc content, while banana FWP contained the highest crude protein, crude fat, and magnesium content. Both banana and watermelon FWP were found to exhibit high crude fibre content. The orange WP was reported with the highest carbohydrate, calcium, and copper content. Although significant differences (p&lt;0.05) in composition were noted, the oven and freeze-drying methods employed showed no pronounced effect. Calcium, copper content (all FWP), sodium and phosphorus (watermelon FWP), phosphorus (banana FWP) examined highly exceeded the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) limit. Banana FWP showed the highest L. casei net growth of log10 8.28±0.02– 8.36±0.01 CFU/mL and 91.61–98.66% of survival rate, thus showing its potential as prebiotic agents among other FWP. All types of FWP showed significant difference (p&lt;0.05) in bacterial growth except for oven-dried orange FWP. Overall, the results revealed that all these fruit wastes could be exploited for the nutrient and value-added potential in food formulations due to their inexpensiveness, natural, safe, and environmental friendliness.

Development of Vitamin D and Protein Rich Energy Bar with Mushroom

Background: Vitamin D and protein deficiencies are amongst the most prevalent malnutrition problems of India and several other developing nations. In the present study an attempt has been made to develop a Vitamin D and protein rich energy bar utilizing mushroom powder. Among the vegetarian foods, mushroom is a very good source of Vitamin D and also rich in good quality protein. Methods: Twelve formulations of energy bar prepared with varying proportions of mushroom powder (0-30%), sweeteners (40-50%) and cereals (20- 45%) were analyzed for nutritional, anti-oxidative, sensory, color and textural properties. Result: A significant improvement in vitamin D, protein, crude fiber, ash and antioxidant activity contents of energy bars with increasing proportions of mushroom powder was observed. Energy bar prepared with 20% mushroom powder, 40% sweetener, 25% cereals, 10% peanuts and a 5% dry fruits showed good sensory acceptability along with a good amount of vitamin D (423.99 IU/100 g), protein (15.18 g/100 g), antioxidant activity (78.52% scavenging of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) crude fiber (4.76 g/100 g) and ash content (2.60 g/100 g). Single bar (50 g) of this snack can provide 53% of recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of Vitamin D and 12.7% of RDA of protein for an adult.

Influence of Hand Anthropometry and Nutrient Intake on Hand Grip Strength: A Correlational Study Among Young Indian Badminton Players

Badminton is a fast shuttle-racquet game, which requires adequate endurance and agility for hitting shots. For consistent and superior performances, players need to develop decent nutritional status and tremendous physical fitness. The present study concerns with the effect of anthropometric indices and nutritional profiles on arm strength for racquet gripping. Adolescent male (N=100) and female (N=100) badminton players aged 10 to 15 years were selected from Nagpur, India, and arm anthropometric indices and skeletal muscles of the players were determined by tape and bioelectrical impedance analyzer respectively. Muscle growing macronutrient (protein) and skeletal developing micronutrients (calcium and phosphorus) were calculated from dietary data for consecutive 3 days by the 24-hour dietary recall method. Arm strength was appraised from the hand grip strength test. Statistically, the assessed data were tested at 1% and 5% significance levels. Pearson correlation coefficients were derived. All the age groups possessed substantially shorter arm lengths (2.41-15.43%) than reference standards. Older groups appeared to have greater arm circumferences (1.00-3.92 cm) than younger groups. Overall, boys showed elevated skeletal muscles (6.69% and 8.29%) than girls. Dietary protein and phosphorus ingestion were significantly higher (45.42-90.88% and 16.18-40.62%) than recommended dietary allowances (RDAs). Calcium intake (23.26-28.48%) was below the RDA. Older male players performed under excellent grade (38%) in the hand grip strength test, depicting masculine supremacy. Positive correlations (r= 0.0710 to 0.5947) between arm anthropometry and nutrient intake with grip strength proved their affirmative effects on delivering various explosive shots, which can enhance the performance level of emerging young players.

Low polyphenol intake among highly scholarity population: CUME cohort.

In the absence of a recommendation for daily intake of phenolic compounds, to compare the intake of the main dietary polyphenols between populations is a really challenge. This study aimed to estimate the total dietary intake of polyphenols, classes and their food sources among Brazilian graduates and postgraduates. This was a cross-sectional study using baseline data from the Cohort of Universities of Minas Gerais (CUME project). Food consumption was assessed using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire with 144 food items. Polyphenol intake was estimated from the Phenol-Explorer and US Department of Agriculture database, and previous studies that evaluated the phenolic content of specific foods. A total of 4130 individuals of both sexes with a median age of 34 (18-86) years old were finally included. The median intake of total polyphenols adjusted for energy was 753.41mg/day (interquartile range - IQR=461.80; p<0.001), and the most consumed classes were phenolic acids and flavonoids, with median intakes of 552.30mg/d (IQR=429.78; p<0.001) and 154.70mg/day (IQR=108.70; p<0.001), respectively. The main food sources of polyphenols were coffee, peanuts, beans, and fruits. A lower intake of total polyphenols and their classes was observed in a population with similar characteristics to those from developed countries. The results demonstrate the importance of disseminating nutritional information about foods, so that the consumption of natural foods is prioritized. New studies that evaluate the consumption of polyphenols and their impact on human health are recommended to establish a daily recommendation for the consumption of such compounds.

The Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Iodine Deficiency in Canadian Adults.

Iodine is a trace micronutrient that is critical for normal thyroid function and human health. Inadequate dietary intake is associated with cognitive impairment, infertility, growth retardation and iodine deficiency disorders in affected populations. Herein, we examined the prevalence of iodine deficiency in adults (median age of 61 years) based on the analysis of 24 h urine samples collected from 800 participants in four clinical sites across Canada in the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study. Urinary iodide together with thiocyanate and nitrate were measured using a validated capillary electrophoresis assay. Protective/risk factors associated with iodine deficiency were identified using a binary logistic regression model, whereas daily urinary iodine concentration (24 h UIC, μg/L) and urinary iodine excretion (24 h UIE, μg/day) were compared using complementary statistical methods with covariate adjustments. Overall, our Canadian adult cohort had adequate iodine status as reflected by a median UIC of 111 μg/L with 11.9% of the population <50 μg/L categorized as having moderate to severe iodine deficiency. Iodine adequacy was also evident with a median 24 h UIE of 226 μg/day as a more robust metric of iodine status with an estimated average requirement (EAR) of 7.1% (< 95 μg/day) and a tolerable upper level (UL) of 1.8% (≥1100 μg/day) based on Canadian dietary reference intake values. Participants taking iodine supplements (OR = 0.18; p = 6.35 × 10−5), had greater 24 h urine volume (OR = 0.69; p = 4.07 × 10−4), excreted higher daily urinary sodium (OR = 0.71; p = 3.03 × 10−5), and/or were prescribed thyroxine (OR = 0.33; p = 1.20 × 10−2) had lower risk for iodine deficiency. Self-reported intake of dairy products was most strongly associated with iodine status (r = 0.24; p = 2.38 × 10−9) after excluding for iodine supplementation and T4 use. Participants residing in Quebec City (OR = 2.58; p = 1.74 × 10−4) and Vancouver (OR = 2.54; p = 3.57 × 10−4) were more susceptible to iodine deficiency than Hamilton or Ottawa. Also, greater exposure to abundant iodine uptake inhibitors from tobacco smoking and intake of specific goitrogenic foods corresponded to elevated urinary thiocyanate and nitrate, which were found for residents from Quebec City as compared to other clinical sites. Recent public health policies that advocate for salt restriction and lower dairy intake may inadvertently reduce iodine nutrition of Canadians, and further exacerbate regional variations in iodine deficiency risk.

Inadequate intake of vitamins and minerals among high-school pupils in the Moroccan Rif region

BACKGROUND: Inadequate nutrient intakes in adolescents may negatively affect their future health. The identification of inadequate micronutrient intakes by dietary study provides essential information to guide educational strategies for promoting healthy eating habits. OBJECTIVE: To assess the daily micronutrient intake and the prevalence of inadequacy in a sample of middle and high-school pupils in the Rif region of Morocco. METHODS: A cross-sectional study collected dietary information from food records over three non-consecutive days in a sample (n = 302) of Moroccan Riffian adolescents (12–18 years). The DIAL software, adapted for commonly eaten Moroccan foods, was used to estimate micronutrient intakes. The proportion of individuals with intakes below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) or the Adequate Intake (AI) level and the probability approach were used to estimate the prevalence of inadequacy. RESULTS: Regardless of gender and age group, our subjects were found to be particularly at risk of inadequate intakes of vitamins E and D, calcium and potassium. Older adolescents (14–18 years) also showed a risk of inadequate intake of folate, biotin, magnesium, iodine and zinc (among boys). CONCLUSION: For many nutrients, the daily diets of our Riffian adolescents do not meet the recommended intake levels. We emphasize the need for monitoring the dietary habits of adolescents and the development of nutrition education programs. Further studies which include the clinical and biological assessment of nutritional status, as well as the regular collection of quality and nationally representative micronutrient data, are recommended.

Deficiency of Vitamin B12 in Type 2 Diabetic Patients Receiving Metformin Therapy at HMC Hospital Peshawar

Background: Diabetes mellitus is on the rise at an alarming rate, and it has now become a global issue. Type 2 Diabetic Mellitus is a disease characterized by disturbances in glucose, protein, and fat metabolism. Diabetes has been increasingly common in recent decades, causing significant socioeconomic burden, particularly in poorer countries.&#x0D; Objective: To investigate the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in Type 2 diabetes patients taking metformin.&#x0D; Methodology: This study was conducted on T2 diabetic patients in the Diabetic Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology HMC Hospital, Peshawar, for a year (10 February 2019 to 12 March 2020). The demographic data of the recruited patients was obtained after they gave their informed written consent. Patients inquired about their metformin use history, dosage, and duration of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A 5cc venous blood sample was taken from the arm and kept at 4 degrees Celsius. Vitamin B12 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunoassay assays after serum was withdrawn. ELISA was used to determine the Vitamin B12 level in serums.&#x0D; Results: A total of 149 people were enrolled in this trial. The patients' average age was 55 years. In this study, there were 67 (38.8%) males and 82 (55.2%) females. The individuals had a 5.12-year history of diabetes mellitus. The average HbA1c level was 8.280.32. The individuals that were included have taken metformin for at least 4.8 years. There were 25 (22.6%) patients using 1000-1500 mg metformin daily, 76 (46.4%) receiving 1500-2000 mg metformin daily, and 48 (40.7%) taking greater than 2000 mg metformin daily. There were 44 patients with a normal BMI, 80 patients who were overweight, and 25 patients who were obese. The average B12 level in the blood was 223pg/ml. Vitamin B12 deficiency was found in 96 (49.1%) of the patients. There was no vitamin B12 deficiency in 53 (45.4%) of the patients.&#x0D; Recommendations: It is strongly advised based on the findings of this study that Serum cobalamin levels should be measured in Type II diabetes patients who are taking metformin, and patients should be given R.D.A (Recommended Dietary Allowance) multivitamins to avoid sequaela of cobalamin deficiency.

Evaluation of Trace Element and Heavy Metal Levels of Some Ethnobotanically Important Medicinal Plants Used as Remedies in Southern Turkey in Terms of Human Health Risk.

Heavy metal accumulation in medicinal plants has increased dramatically in recent years due to agricultural and industrial activities leading to pollution of natural sources. This study is focused on the concentration of trace elements and heavy metals in aboveground parts of 33 medicinal plants from the Eastern Mediterranean of Turkey. Results showed that the Al concentrations varied between 4.368 and 1104.627, the B level varied between 47.850 and 271.479, Ca values ranged between 1971.213 and 22,642.895, Cd concentrations ranged between 0.011 and 0.651, Cr contents varied between 1.371 and 41.692, Cu values varied between 13.278 and 42.586, Fe concentrations varied between 20.705 and 1276.783, K levels ranged between 652.143 and 14,440.946, Mg concentrations varied from 336.871 to 1869.486, Mn contents varied between 46.383 and 849.492, Na concentrations varied between 167.144 and 3401.252, Ni values varied between 0.065 and 9.968, Pb levels ranged between 1.311 and 16.238, and Zn concentrations ranged between 67.250 and 281.954 mg kg−1, respectively. Furthermore, Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) values for trace elements and estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and hazard index (HI) for heavy metals were calculated. The concentrations of heavy metals in some studied plants distributed in industrial and mining regions were found as slightly higher than the acceptable limits determined by WHO. Consequently, in order to prevent this heavy metal accumulation, when collecting medicinal aromatic plants, rural areas, close to clean rivers, or mountainous areas should be preferred, away from highway, mining, and industrial areas.

Nutrient Strength and Dissolution Test Results of Nationally Representative Prescription Prenatal Multivitamin/Mineral (RxP MVM) Supplements

ObjectivesUS pregnant women are at risk of dietary deficiencies of iron, folate, calcium and vitamin D and take Rx or non-Rx MVM supplements to optimize their nutritional status. The efficacy of a MVM is determined not only by its ingredient content but also by the ability of tablets and capsules to properly disintegrate and release nutrients. The goals of this Dietary Supplement Ingredient Database study were to measure micronutrients in RxP MVMs and to assess dosage form adherence to the United States Pharmacopeial (USP) dissolution standards.MethodsMultiple lots of 24 RxP MVMs, representing 61% of the market were tested by commercial laboratories. We compared the content with Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) and Upper Tolerable Intake Levels (ULs). The MVMs were tested for folic acid, iron, riboflavin, and retinol dissolution. To pass, at least 75% of the labeled amount must be released in 1 hour.ResultsThe means of daily intakes provided by most RxP MVMs were below 20% RDAs for calcium and magnesium, at about half of the RDA for iodine, at or slightly above RDAs for iron and copper, and almost twice the RDA for zinc. The mean amounts of daily intakes of vitamins A, C, D, E, niacin, and thiamin provided by most MVMs were 70–160%RDAs, although some products contained thiamin, vitamins C or D at 170–240% of RDAs. All MVMs provided amounts of folic acid exceeding the RDA (mean %RDA ± SD; 334 ± 49). Average measured contents of vitamins and minerals exceeded labeled amounts, including those labeled with amounts above ULs. However, none of the 15 tablet and 4 soft gel products passed dissolution testing for all ingredients required by USP. None of 7 products passed the test for retinol. Only 55% of 11 MVMs in tablets with fast releasing iron sources passed dissolution tests for iron, folic acid and riboflavin. For at least one of those three ingredients, 80–93% of 12–15 tablets passed dissolution, and only 1 of 4 soft gels passed the test with pepsin added to the testing media.ConclusionsAlthough RxP MVMs contained several micronutrients significantly exceeding RDAs that might help to close nutrient gaps, the sample of nationally representative RxP MVMs failed to meet all USP standards for ingredient dissolution. This is a concern for pregnant women because nutrients in failed products might not be available for absorption and utilization.Funding SourcesNIH ODS and the USDA.

Rational Use of vitamins during pregnancy and The pregnancy multivitamin products' available in Turkey.

Background: Despite the imperative role of sufficient vitamin intake during pregnancy, not all women are capable of following a balanced diet during these times. As an attempt to resolve the issue of micronutrient deficiencies, many women resort to the use of multivitamins; ones often made for pregnant women. Aim: The review aims to compare the Daily Recommended Dietary Allowance of each vitamin, micronutrient, and macronutrient with the doses available in a sample of products found in the Turkish markets, whether imported or manufactured in Turkey. Methods: The Daily Recommended Dietary Allowance doses were collected from the CDC, WHO, and IOM databases. The doses present in each product were gathered using the database offered by the Turkish pharmacist association "Tebrp" as well as RxMediaPharma. Elevit® and decavit® were selected as they've been approved by the Turkish Ministry of Health, while the other products were randomly chosen using a computer program. Results: Several formulations available in Turkey display higher or lower daily contents of vitamins and minerals than is normally ideal for pregnant women as specified by the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). Formulations that exceed the recommended RDA while remaining underneath the tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) range for specific vitamins includes Pregnacare®, Decavit®, and Elevit®. Conclusion: All of these variances in multivitamin content must be considered by physicians and clinical pharmacists when selecting the appropriate multivitamin for pregnant women, taking into account all of the hazards and benefits that vitamin supplements may bring to fetus health and development.

Influence of Nutrient Intake and Workload on Maternal Outcome of Pregnancy in Selected Health Facilities of Abeokuta Ogun State, Nigeria

ObjectivesThis study investigated the influence of Nutrient Intake and Workload on the Maternal Outcome of Pregnancy in Selected Health Facilities of Abeokuta Ogun State.MethodsMultistage sampling procedure was adopted to select 200 respondents using their clinic booking register. A 24-hr diet recall was used to obtain information on nutrient intake, occupation and house chores was estimated to assess maternal workload using Henriksen method with little modification on job duration and demand while the maternal outcome such as nature of delivery, Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and Blood Pressure (BP) were assessed as secondary data from the maternal delivery records with details of all events that surrounded the delivery. All data was analysed using SPSS version 20.0, nutrient intake was analysed with nutri-survey software and compared with Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) while number of hours worked per day were analysed as a categorical variable according to conventional classification. The maternal outcome was classified according to UNICEF. Spearman correlation was use to draw possibly association between variables.ResultsThe result shows that carbohydrate and protein intake exceeded the RDA while micronutrients (calcium, iron, magnesium vitamin A, E, B-complex and folate) were below RDA. Maternal workload shows that 69.60%, 20.00% and 10.70% of the respondents had low, moderate and high workload respectively. Maternal pregnancy outcome assessed revealed that 58.80% had spontaneous virginal delivery, 35.30% had caesarean sections, 3.30% was assisted with vacuum while 2.7% delivered by induction. Over half (52.50%) of the respondents had normal PCV before delivery and 80.80% were anemic after delivery. Prevalence of systolic and diastolic hypertension after delivery was 27.00% and 20.00% respectively.ConclusionsThe calorie, iron magnesium and vitamin C are significant to maternal workload while protein and iron intake are significant to nature of delivery had by the respondents. Low maternal workload favours spontaneous virginal delivery and minimize blood pressure before and after delivery. Increase workload reduces the PCV of the respondents by half.Funding SourcesSelf-sponsored.