Development and Initial Validation of a Simplified Approach for Compartmental Modeling of Vitamin A Kinetics in Theoretical and Real Human Subjects.

Synthesis and characterization of sodium alginate-chitosan liposome gel beads via electrostatic complexation: A dual-network platform for co-delivery of folic acid and vitamin E.

Ultrasonic microreactor-mediated fabrication of stable W1/O/W2 double emulsions for efficient vitamin C encapsulation.

This study examines how the costs, health impacts, and efficiency of two-dose vitamin A supplementation (VAS) vary across delivery platforms, population subgroups, and delivery contexts in Togo, Niger, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Using a scenario-based model, it compares provider costs and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted and identifies reallocations that maximize health gains under fixed budget constraints. Costs were estimated from the health provider perspective, and health outcomes were measured in DALYs averted. Results showed that cost-effective scenarios varied significantly across countries: in the DRC and Niger, campaigns delivered high coverage but at a substantially higher cost than routine delivery, while in Togo, campaigns were both low-cost and high-coverage. In all countries, the most cost-effective scenarios prioritized children aged 6-23 months. More than two-thirds of the cost-effective scenarios achieved better outcomes at lower cost than countries' current delivery strategies, highlighting significant potential for efficiency gains. A positive, non-linear relationship between incremental costs and DALYs averted was observed: greater investment generally led to larger health gains but returns diminished as costs rose. A sensitivity analysis showed that facility-based supply shortages negatively affected effectiveness, while strengthened routine delivery improved effectiveness. Optimal VAS strategies must be context-specific, balancing the reach of campaigns with the sustainability of routine services. The decision tool provides a practical mechanism for identifying cost-effective delivery strategies tailored to national capacities and constraints.

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a pressing public health issue for young children in low- and middle-income countries like Somalia, significantly increasing risks of morbidity, mortality, and impaired development. High-dose Vitamin A supplementation (VAS) is a crucial preventative intervention, yet data on its coverage in Somalia's complex humanitarian context are scarce. This study aims to assess the prevalence of VAS and identify its sociodemographic determinants among Somali children aged 6-59 months. This study utilized a quantitative, cross-sectional design, analyzing data from 15,456 children aged 6-59 months from the nationally representative Somalia Demographic and Health Survey (SDHS) 2020. The outcome was maternal report of a child receiving a Vitamin A supplement in the preceding 6 months. To ensure the results were nationally representative, weighted descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were performed in Stata to account for the complex survey design. The prevalence of VAS receipt was critically low at 11.2%. Multivariate analysis revealed significant and unexpected disparities. Contrary to expectations, compared to children of mothers with no education, those with primary (AOR = 0.453, p < 0.001), secondary (AOR = 0.302, p < 0.001), or higher education (AOR = 0.327, p < 0.001) had significantly lower odds of their child receiving VAS. Children in nomadic households had significantly lower odds than those in rural households (AOR = 0.626, 95% CI: 0.549-0.714, p < 0.001). Compared to mothers aged 15-19, older mothers (≥ 35 years) had significantly lower odds of their child receiving VAS. Children of divorced mothers also had lower odds than those of married mothers (AOR = 0.799, p = 0.028). VAS coverage among young Somali children is alarmingly inadequate. The counterintuitive finding regarding maternal education suggests that conventional assumptions about health-seeking behaviors may not apply in this context. Targeted interventions and strengthened health system delivery are urgently needed to address these disparities.

Sepsis-induced liver injury affects about 34.7% of patients and correlates with prognosis. Although vitamin A (VA) and retinol-binding protein 4 [RBP4] are reduced in sepsis, the protective role of VA remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the effects of VA and mechanisms in septic liver injury. Cecal ligation puncture was performed in male C57BL/6 mice. After 24 hours, retinol (ROL, 0.01, 0.1, 1 mg/kg), RBP4 (0.5 mg/kg), or their combinations were administered. Liver/serum samples collected 24 hours later assessed injury (histopathology, function) and retinoic acid (RA)-inducible gene-I (RIG-I)/ receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIPK)1/RIPK3/mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) expression via immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated alpha mouse liver-12 cells, ROL, RBP4, ROL+RBP4, or RA effects were evaluated. Cecal ligation puncture mice showed decreased serum ROL at 12 hours (lowest at 24 hours), while RBP4 transiently rose at 3 hours before declining (lowest at 24 hours). ROL (1 mg/kg) + RBP4 significantly improved survival, reduced liver injury (low Knodell scores), and suppressed RIG-I/TNF-α/RIPK1-RIPK3-MLKL necroptosis. LPS reduced RBP4 in alpha mouse liver-12 cells ( P < 0.001); ROL + RBP4 and RA alleviated damage via inhibiting necroptosis. VA may exert hepatoprotection by suppressing RIG-I, reducing tumor necrosis factor-α, and inhibiting RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL-mediated necroptosis.

Biphasic-gelled W/O/W emulsion gel for co-delivering vitamins B12 and E: Preparation, characterization, and in vitro digestion.

Accurate quantification of fat-soluble vitamin A （VA）， vitamin D （25（OH）D）， vitamin E （VE）， vitamin K （VK） is essential for health assessment and disease diagnosis. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （LC-MS/MS） plays a crucial role in the measurement of these vitamins due to its high specificity and sensitivity. However， the comparability and concordance of the detection results among different LC-MS/MS methods are still suboptimal. In this study， the analytical performance including linearity， limit of detection， limit of quantitation， precision， accuracy and carryover was evaluated according to CLSI C62 and the Suggestions on Clinical Application of Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Aliquots of 40 patient samples were collected from August to October 2022 from the Second Xiangya Hospital， Central South University. These fat-soluble vitamins were measured using three LC-MS/MS methods. Passing-Bablok regression， Bland-Altman plots and concordance correlation coefficient （CCC） were performed to compare the differences among three methods. The consistency of the results before and after recalibration with a unified calibrator was evaluated. The results showed that the total CVs for the three mass spectrometry kits were 2.7%-10.1%， and the recoveries for all kits ranged from 88.8% to 109.2%， indicating that their detection performance met the requirements for clinical application. Concordance correlation analysis showed that two of the three methods had substantial agreement in vitamin D testing （CCC： 0.938）， while the CCCs for other methods ranged from 0.322 to 0.853. After recalibration with a unified calibrator， except for vitamin K， the CCCs for the results of the three methods ranged from 0.918 to 0.983. In conclusion， the performance validation results of three LC-MS/MS methods for fat-soluble vitamins meet clinical requirements. The consistency among the three methods was poor， but using a unified calibrator significantly improved the consistency of these methods. The study provides recommendations for the standardization of clinical fat-soluble vitamin testing， thereby contributing to improved accuracy and consistency of results. This study will provide more reliable evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

In vertebrates, vitamin A (VA) is crucial for development, tissue homeostasis, vision, and immunity. Retinal, a form of VA, can be produced via enzymatic cleavage of β-carotene by beta-carotene oxygenase 1 (bco1) and bco1-like (bco1l), but the developmental and tissue-specific functions of these genes are poorly understood. While bco1 is found across vertebrate taxa, bco1l is a paralog of bco1 that we discover to have evolved in the ray-finned fishes, the most abundant, speciose, and commercially important group of fishes. We investigated the function of bco1l in ray-finned Siamese fighting fish, commonly known as betta, an emerging model for genetics and development. Using CRISPR-Cas9 knockouts, we find that lack of bco1l results in reduced VA and elevated β-carotene in larvae, starting when animals have exhausted their yolk supply of retinal, followed by stunted growth and death during juvenile development. Exogenous retinoic acid largely rescues the mutation, demonstrating its deficiency causes these defects. bco1l is 7× more abundant than bco1 in the intestine. This, coupled with the inability of bco1 to sustain VA production in the bco1l mutant, indicates that bco1l is the primary enzyme for dietary carotenoid conversion into retinal. Our results show that VA production by bco1l is required for post-embryonic development, and that bco1l became essential after evolving via duplication of bco1.

Micromeria biflora (M. biflora), a medicinal plant, was systematically investigated for its phytochemical composition as well as its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Although the plant is widely employed in traditional medicine, comprehensive scientific evidence elucidating its therapeutic efficacy remains limited. To bridge this knowledge gap, the present study adopts an integrated multidisciplinary strategy combining Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) profiling, in vitro biological assays, molecular docking, and Density Functional Theory (DFT) analyses. The methanolic extract of the plant and its solvent-partitioned fractions were analyzed using GC-MS, which identified a total of 74 compounds. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric ion reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) assays, with ethyl acetate fraction demonstrating the highest radical scavenging capacity. Antimicrobial efficacy was assessed, revealing that the n-hexane fraction exhibited the most potent activity. Molecular docking studies were conducted on penicillin-binding protein 5 of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and sterol 14-alpha demethylase of Candida albicans (C. albicans) and showed strong interactions for 3,5,6,12-tetrahydroxyergostan-25-yl acetate, ferruginol, and 3-ethyl-3-hydroxyandrostan-17-one. DFT calculations identified 3,5,6,12-tetrahydroxyergostan-25-yl acetate as the most reactive, polar, and stable compound, based on its highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) gap (6.99 eV), high dipole moment (5.63 D), and lowest energy value (−1623.64 Eh). Structural visualization confirmed optimized geometries without steric anomalies, supporting docking interactions. This multidimensional study validates the traditional medicinal relevance of M. biflora and provides the first comprehensive mechanistic insights at the molecular level.

BackgroundIntramuscular fat (IMF) deposition determines beef marbling quality, with current industry practices relying on vitamin A (VA) restriction throughout fattening to enhance marbling development. This study challenges the conventional approach by investigating late-fattening vitamin A supplementation effects on marbling formation in Woking black cattle.ResultsInitial in vitro experiments using bovine skeletal muscle cells (BSMCs) demonstrated that all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) treatment during late differentiation (0.1–1 μmol/L) enhanced lipid accumulation with upregulated PPARγ and FABP4 expression. In vivo trials with late-fattening VA supplementation (3,000 IU/kg DM) significantly improved marbling grades, achieving 75% high-grade marbling (A3 or above) with enhanced nutritionally beneficial fatty acids including EPA and DHA levels. Large-scale analysis using 336 genetically homogeneous cattle revealed that superior marbling development correlated with serum VA depletion after VA supplementation, indicating active utilization rather than restriction. A4-grade cattle showed significantly lower serum VA levels than A1-grade cattle, with coordinated upregulation of lipogenic proteins (FASN, SCD, ACACA, PPARγ, FABP4). Transcriptomic analysis unexpectedly revealed significant AMPK pathway activation alongside enhanced marbling development, contradicting conventional understanding of AMPK as an adipogenesis inhibitor. Functional validation using AMPK modulators in BSMCs confirmed that while AMPK inhibition (Compound C) dramatically enhanced VA-induced adipogenesis, AMPK activation (AICAR) suppressed lipogenesis, demonstrating AMPK functions as a negative feedback regulator during VA-mediated adipogenesis rather than preventing intramuscular fat accumulation.ConclusionsStrategic late-fattening VA supplementation enhances marbling development through PPARγ-mediated transcriptional networks, with AMPK serving as a metabolic sensor and negative feedback regulator rather than an absolute inhibitor. This stage-specific intervention achieved superior marbling quality and improved fatty acid composition in Woking black cattle, suggesting potential for optimization of premium beef production. Validation across diverse genetic backgrounds and production systems will be essential for broader industry implementation.Graphical Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40104-025-01343-1.

ABSTRACT The development of green and effective stabilization systems for polymers remains a critical challenge. This work investigates the synergistic stabilization of polypropylene (PP) using a fully natural combination of vitamin E (VE) and attapulgite (ATP) clay. PP samples with 0.1 wt% VE alone had an oxidation induction time (OIT) of 7.3 min, while co‐adding 0.1 wt% ATP extended the OIT to 13.9 min. The VE/ATP combination also effectively improved processing stability during multiple extrusion cycles and markedly retarded both carbonyl formation and surface cracking during accelerated aging at 120°C. Comprehensive characterization, including spectroscopic and thermal analyses, confirmed the physical adsorption of VE molecules onto ATP, which likely contributes to the enhanced stabilization by mitigating VE migration and prolonging antioxidant activity. These findings demonstrate a promising and sustainable strategy for enhancing the long‐term durability of PP using an entirely natural additive combination.

Background: Although the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in Cameroon has dropped slightly in recent years, the prevalence remains high in some areas and is considered a significant public health problem in Cameroon. Nevertheless, vitamin A supplementation (VAS) among children is the best way to tackle this problem. The study aims to determine the consumption and determinants of VAS among children aged 6-59 months in Cameroon. Methods: This study was a community-based cross-sectional study conducted using a validated questionnaire from February 2023 to June 2023 in Buea and Kumba health Districts. Multistage sampling was used to select caregiver- child pair from districts implementing routine VAS program. Results: A total of 407 mothers/caregivers were recruited for this study. The proportion of VAS was 68.8%, 63.4% had adequate knowledge and 64.9% had good attitude towards VAS. Almost all the participants faced no challenges in accessing VAS services. The factors associated with VAS were the time taken (P=0.001), the means of transportation (P=0.037), access to the health facility (P=0.032), child schooling (P=0.006), knowledge on VAS (P= 0.024) and educational level of the caregivers (P=0.020). Conclusion: The VAS coverage was 68.8% below the amount recommended by WHO which is 80-90% coverage. Also, the factors associated with VAS included time taken, the means of transportation, access to the health facility, knowledge of the caregivers on VAS, child schooling, and the education level of the caregiver

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with Vitamin E (VE) and selenium (Se) on immunostressed broilers. In the experiment, a total of 576 Gushi chickens were randomly allocated into 12 groups. They were respectively fed diets with different levels of VE and Se. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) immune treatment was administered at 23, 25, and 27 days of age. At 28 days of age, the antioxidant indicators and immune factors in their serum, liver, and intestine were measured. The results indicated that (1) LPS treatment significantly elevated the contents of nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the duodenum and jejunum (p < 0.01). Conversely, adding VE and Se to the diet of LPS-treated chicks could significantly decrease the content of NO in the duodenum and the activities of NOS in the duodenum and jejunum (p < 0.01). (2) LPS treatment significantly decreased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver of broilers, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the activities of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p < 0.01). Dietary supplementation of selenium could significantly reduce the content of MDA (p < 0.01), and the treatment groups with 200 mg/kg VE and 0.6 mg/kg Se exhibited the most favorable effects. (3) Adding Se or VE to the diet of LPS-treated chicks could significantly increase the thymus index and spleen index (p < 0.05) and significantly decrease the bursa of Fabricius index (p < 0.05). Among them, the thymus index was the highest in the 100 mg/kg VE group, and the interaction of the three factors had a significant influence on the thymus index and bursa of Fabricius index (p < 0.05). (4) The level ofinterleukin-6 (IL-6) in the serum of broilers in the LPS treatment group was significantly increased. However, selenium and Vitamin E were added to the diet of LPS-treated chicks to reduce the contents of serum IL-6 and IL-8, as well as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Moreover, the interaction of the three factors has a significant impact on immune indicators (p < 0.01). In conclusion, adding 100-200 mg/kg of VE and 0.6 mg/kg of Se to the diet of broiler chickens has certain advantages in enhancing immunity and antioxidant capacity.

Enhanced Calcium Intake Increases Bone Mineral Density on the Background of Vitamin A Toxicity in a Swine Model.

Vitamin A supplementation during the suckling period attenuates the effects of a maternal Western diet on liver sexual maturity-related traits in a sex-dependent manner.

Vitamin A supplementation (VAS) and deworming (DW) are proven, cost-effective interventions that protect children against preventable morbidity, mortality, and the burden of micronutrient deficiencies and parasitic infections. Nevertheless, many children fail to receive both interventions simultaneously, limiting the potential health gains. Assessing co-coverage and its determinants is crucial for guiding integrated child health strategies and closing persistent gaps across Sub-Saharan Africa. We analyzed DHS data from 15 Sub-Saharan African countries, including 107,725 children aged 12-59 months. The primary outcome was co-coverage of vitamin A supplementation and deworming within six months. Weighted descriptive statistics and mixed-effects logistic regression assessed determinants at individual, household, community, and country levels, accounting for survey design and clustering. Variables with p < 0.20 or deemed theoretically relevant were included in the multilevel model (p < 0.05, 95% CI). The pooled co-coverage of vitamin A supplementation (VAS) and deworming (DW) among children aged 12-59 months was 44.0% (95% CI: 43.4-44.6%), despite individual coverage of 57.1% for each intervention. Approximately 13% of children received either Vitamin A or deworming as a single intervention. Nearly 30% of children received neither intervention. Co-coverage was lowest in Sierra Leone (10.3%) and Gabon (13.2%), moderate in Burkina Faso (28.6%), Côte d'Ivoire (31.0%), Mozambique (44.0%), and Tanzania (44.7%), and highest in Lesotho (58.4%) and Rwanda (84.7%). Vitamin A supplementation coverage was lowest in Gabon (15.7%), Sierra Leone (16.5%) and highest in Rwanda (89.1%) and Lesotho (73.6%), while deworming alone was lowest in Sierra Leone (30.3%) and Burkina Faso (36.7%) and highest in Rwanda (89.4%) and Lesotho (62.4%). Co-coverage of vitamin A supplementation and deworming was higher among children aged 24-47 months (AOR = 1.07), fully immunized children (AOR = 1.41), and those with older, educated mothers who attended antenatal care (AORs 1.14-1.59) or had media exposure (AOR = 1.13). Household wealth also increased the likelihood (AORs 1.27-1.64), while urban residence reduced it (AOR = 0.84). At the country level, compared with Burkina Faso, Rwanda (AOR = 20.05), Mauritania (AOR = 4.30), and Lesotho (AOR = 3.92) had the highest odds, whereas Gabon (AOR = 0.36) and Sierra Leone (AOR = 0.22) had the lowest inter-country disparities in integrated child health coverage. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) indicated that approximately 21.6% of the variance in concurrent coverage was attributable to between-country differences. Co-coverage of vitamin A supplementation and deworming in 15 sub-Saharan Africa countries is low, with only 44% of children aged 12-59 months receiving both interventions, far below the WHO 80% target. Coverage varied widely, with Rwanda leading and Sierra Leone and Gabon lagging. Strengthened harmonized campaigns, routine service integration, and targeted outreach are essential to improve equitable child health outcomes.

BackgroundVitamin A supplementation (VAS) and deworming (DW) are proven, cost-effective interventions that protect children against preventable morbidity, mortality, and the burden of micronutrient deficiencies and parasitic infections. Nevertheless, many children fail to receive both interventions simultaneously, limiting the potential health gains. Assessing co-coverage and its determinants is crucial for guiding integrated child health strategies and closing persistent gaps across Sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsWe analyzed DHS data from 15 Sub-Saharan African countries, including 107,725 children aged 12–59 months. The primary outcome was co-coverage of vitamin A supplementation and deworming within six months. Weighted descriptive statistics and mixed-effects logistic regression assessed determinants at individual, household, community, and country levels, accounting for survey design and clustering. Variables with p < 0.20 or deemed theoretically relevant were included in the multilevel model (p < 0.05, 95% CI).ResultsThe pooled co-coverage of vitamin A supplementation (VAS) and deworming (DW) among children aged 12–59 months was 44.0% (95% CI: 43.4–44.6%), despite individual coverage of 57.1% for each intervention. Approximately 13% of children received either Vitamin A or deworming as a single intervention. Nearly 30% of children received neither intervention. Co-coverage was lowest in Sierra Leone (10.3%) and Gabon (13.2%), moderate in Burkina Faso (28.6%), Côte d’Ivoire (31.0%), Mozambique (44.0%), and Tanzania (44.7%), and highest in Lesotho (58.4%) and Rwanda (84.7%). Vitamin A supplementation coverage was lowest in Gabon (15.7%), Sierra Leone (16.5%) and highest in Rwanda (89.1%) and Lesotho (73.6%), while deworming alone was lowest in Sierra Leone (30.3%) and Burkina Faso (36.7%) and highest in Rwanda (89.4%) and Lesotho (62.4%). Co-coverage of vitamin A supplementation and deworming was higher among children aged 24–47 months (AOR = 1.07), fully immunized children (AOR = 1.41), and those with older, educated mothers who attended antenatal care (AORs 1.14–1.59) or had media exposure (AOR = 1.13). Household wealth also increased the likelihood (AORs 1.27–1.64), while urban residence reduced it (AOR = 0.84). At the country level, compared with Burkina Faso, Rwanda (AOR = 20.05), Mauritania (AOR = 4.30), and Lesotho (AOR = 3.92) had the highest odds, whereas Gabon (AOR = 0.36) and Sierra Leone (AOR = 0.22) had the lowest inter-country disparities in integrated child health coverage. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) indicated that approximately 21.6% of the variance in concurrent coverage was attributable to between-country differences.ConclusionCo-coverage of vitamin A supplementation and deworming in 15 sub-Saharan Africa countries is low, with only 44% of children aged 12–59 months receiving both interventions, far below the WHO 80% target. Coverage varied widely, with Rwanda leading and Sierra Leone and Gabon lagging. Strengthened harmonized campaigns, routine service integration, and targeted outreach are essential to improve equitable child health outcomes.

BackgroundIn 2019, the RTS,S/AS01E malaria vaccine (RTS,S) was introduced into Ghana’s routine health system as part of the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP). Household surveys were conducted prior to vaccine introduction and approximately 18 and 30 months post-introduction. We present a description of the area in Ghana based on the baseline household survey including malaria prevalence, malnutrition, wealth, insecticide-treated net (ITN) coverage, other health interventions (deworming, Vitamin A supplementation (VAS)), coverage of Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) vaccines, and health-seeking behaviour for febrile children.MethodsThe baseline household survey was conducted between 25 February and 18 March 2019 in a representative sample of 6778 households across 66 districts (33 in each of the implementing and comparator areas) in Ghana. Caregivers of children aged 5–48 months were interviewed. For each child, vaccination details were transcribed from the maternal and child health record book, and we measured the mid-upper arm circumference and obtained a malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT). Survey-weighted coverage estimates were obtained using standard survey methods. Survey Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios.ResultsOverall, 7768 children were included in the study, and 21% (95% CI 18–23) tested positive for malaria parasitemia by RDT. About 87%, 95%CI (85–89) of all households owned at least one ITN, and 62%, 95%CI (59–64) of children aged 5–48 months slept under an insecticide-treated net (ITN) the night before the survey. Additionally, 22%, 95%CI (21–24) of children reported having fever in the two weeks preceding the survey; among those with reported fever, 72%, 95%CI (69–74) sought advice or treatment, 40%, 95%CI (37–44) were tested for malaria, and 42%, 95%CI (39–46) of those with fever took an antimalarial drug. Additionally, 17%, 95%CI (16–19) had a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) ≤ 13.5 cm, and 1%, 95%CI (0–1) had a (MUAC) ≤ 11.5 cm. The uptake of vitamin A VAS in the 6 months prior to the survey was 36%, based on routine delivery through EPI, and deworming coverage was 29%. Coverage of EPI vaccines was > 90%. Indicators in comparison and implementation areas were comparable.ConclusionsThe pilot implementation and evaluation of the RTS,S malaria vaccine in Ghana was conducted in an area with substantial malaria transmission and illness, modest health-seeking behaviour and ITN use, and good EPI vaccine coverage. This study has established the baseline comparability between implementation and comparator areas, which serves as the foundation for future feasibility assessments.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12936-025-05778-9.

Salt stress is a major agricultural issue. A promising modern agriculture method is the foliar treatment of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs). This approach has shown promise in boosting challenged tomato yields, fruit quality, and leaf extract antibacterial activity against pathogens. A greenhouse experiment was conducted. The previously synthesized and characterized ZnONPs were used to alleviate the harmful effects of NaCl stress. Tomato fruit weight from different treatments was determined, and the gas–liquid chromatography device was used to observe the changes in fatty acid production. The antimicrobial activities of the aqueous and diethyl ether extracts from tomato leaves were determined against six bacterial and six fungal strains. The plants that were salinity-stressed and sprayed with 0.075 and 0.15 g/L ZnONPs showed a better improvement compared to the salinity-stressed plants. Also, the sprayed plants that were not stressed at all showed promising results compared to the control and the other different treatments. Through the process of molecular docking, it was shown that caffeic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, sinapic acid, and apigenin-7-glucoside are essential chemicals that possess antibacterial and antifungal effects against the DNA Gyrase inhibitor and the sterol 14-alpha demethylase (CYP51) enzyme, respectively. It is concluded that salt stress can negatively affect the growth, quality, and variant plant features. However, the foliar application of ZnONPs is able to overcome those adverse effects in the stressed plants, and enhance the non-stressed as well.