Changes in some nutritional components of Vigna racemosa as influenced by hydrothermal processing techniques

Vigna racemosa is an underutilised hard-to-cook legume in Southwest Nigeria. The seed of V. racemosa was subjected to varying degrees of hydration levels (0%, 10%, 25%, 50% 75% and 100%) before treatment with four hydrothermal techniques, atmospheric boiling, atmospheric steaming, pressure boiling and pressure steaming. The highest percentage reduction of 65.56% in cooking time was achieved at a 100% hydration level when the seeds were processed by boiling at elevated pressure. All the hydrothermal techniques had a significant effect (p<0.05) on the protein content of the seeds. Hydration of the seeds to 100% followed by boiling at elevated pressure caused the least reduction in the protein and mineral element contents. The seed is a good source of important nutrients that are not degraded beyond the levels necessary to meet physiological needs after processing. Widening the scope of utilisation of this legume seed will make critically important nutrients such as protein more available for the teeming populations in developing countries at affordable prices, and thus, alleviating the problem of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM).

Harmful effects of malnutrition and possible sustainable solution

Malnutrition is a condition that results from eating a diet that does not supply a healthy amount of one or more nutrients. It is a condition characterized by lack of one or more essential nutrients from the diet or a surplus of some nutrients which affect the body negatively. Malnutrition consists of two types: undernutrition and overnutrition. Undernutrition involves the deficiency of macronutrients like protein or calories and micronutrients like iron, iodine and many more. Protein energy malnutrition is caused by the inadequate intake of protein and calories. It is further classified in three types, kwashiorkor, marasmus and marasmic kwashiorkor. Malnutrition mainly affects an individual’s immune system, lean body mass, cardio-respiratory functions, muscle functions. Malnutrition can be caused due to many factors including unavailability of food, poverty, higher food prices and many more. Strategies like biofortification and supplementation are used for the treatment of malnutrition.

Expressed Breast Milk Analysis: Role of Individualized Protein Fortification to Avoid Protein Deficit After Preterm Birth and Improve Infant Outcomes

Background: Expressed breast milk (EBM) protein content is highly variable between mothers and often below published values that are still used for EBM protein fortification strategies. This approach may result in significant protein deficit and suboptimal protein energy (P/E) ratio. The study aim was to determine whether individualized EBM protein analysis and fortification will reduce preterm infant protein deficits and improve growth and neurodevelopmental outcome.Study Methods: In a single-center randomized, blinded study of infants born at 24 0/7–29 6/7 weeks, mother-specific protein values measured by a milk analyzer were used to individualize infant-specific protein intake (interventional group, IG), and compared this to a standardized protein fortification scheme based on published values of EBM protein content of 1.4 g/dL (control group, CG). For IG, milk analyzer protein values of mother's EBM were used to adjust protein content of the EBM. The CG EBM protein content was adjusted using the standard published value of 1.4 g/dL and not based on milk analyzer values. EBM protein content, protein intake, protein/energy (P/E) ratio, weight (WT), head circumference (HC), length (L), growth velocity (GV) from 2 to 6 weeks of age, WT, HC and L Z-Scores at 32- and 35-weeks PMA, and lean body mass (35 weeks PMA skin fold thickness) were measured. Neurodevelopment was assessed by Bayley III at average 24 months corrected gestational age (CGA).Results: EBM protein content before fortification was significantly below published values of 1.4 g/dL at all time points in both CG and IG. CG protein deficit was significantly decreased and progressively worsened throughout the study. Individualized protein fortification in IG avoided protein deficit and optimized P/E ratio. Although no significant change in short-term GV (at 6 weeks of age) was seen between groups, IG infants born at &lt;27 weeks had significant improvements in WT and L z-scores, and leaner body mass at 32 and 35 weeks PMA. IG exhibited significantly improved cognitive scores at 24 months CGA.Conclusions: Infant-specific protein supplementation of mother's EBM optimized P/E ratio by eliminating protein deficit and improved growth z scores at 32- and 35-weeks PMA and neurocognitive testing at 24 months.

Protein-energy supplementation on productive and nutritional performance of grazing beef heifers

This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the effect of protein-energy supplementation on productive performance, intake, digestibility, and microbial protein synthesis in heifers fed tropical forage. Twelve Nellore heifers at 11 months of age, with a mean initial body weight of 248.8 ± 11.40 kg were used. The animals were distributed in a completely randomized design with two treatments and six replicates. The treatments evaluated were: control (without supplementation); and supplementation in the amount of 1.5 kg animal-1 day-1. Forage samples were collected to evaluate the chemical composition and the total availability of dry matter of the pasture consumed by the animals. To evaluate the intake and forage digestibility, a trial was performed using internal and external markers. In this study no effect of supplementation was observed on the intakes of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), forage DM, or neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (NDFap; P > 0.10). However, supplementation increased (P < 0.01) the intakes of crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), and non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC). Additionally, an upward trend (P=0.076) was observed in the intake of digested OM (DOM) with supplementation. On the other hand, supplementation increased (P < 0.01) the digestibility coefficients of OM, CP, EE, and NFC, although supplementation did not affect the ruminal synthesis of nitrogen compounds (MICN), efficiency of protein microbial synthesis (EMS), relative microbial nitrogen (RMICN) or urine urea nitrogen (UUN) excretion (P > 0.57). Lastly, supplementation increased (P=0.050) the average daily gain of the animals, although no effect (P > 0.10) was observed on their final body weight. These results suggested that protein-energy supplementation improves the productive performance and nutritional characteristics of grazing beef heifers.

Early neonatal features of juvenile offenders

Objective: Identification of perinatal risk factors as differential predictors of violent and non-violent crimes among children and adolescents who come under the attention of juvenile departments of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation.Methods: Study of the perinatal history data of 148 juvenile offenders of comparable age (13-16 years old), selected using continuous sampling method in the course of a clinical observational cohort retrospective study.Results: Children from the control group in half of the cases were “late premature” (48%), with protein-energy malnutrition (frequency of occurrence of FGRP 56.8% BMI 56.1 ± 13.65). The beginning of their life was accompanied by a low score according to Apgar scale (6.9 ± 1.81). From the first minutes of life, they required urgent therapy in the delivery room (35.9%) and subsequent treatment at the ICU (25.7%) due to the damage of the respiratory system (asphyxia 11.5%, RDS 19.6%, episodes of apnea 16.2 %) and increasing dysfunction of the central nervous system (IVH II-IV grade 24.3%). Subsequently, they demonstrated a disruption of early neonatal adaptation and a clinical picture of the realization of intrauterine fetal developmental disorders, which arose both as a result of improper metabolism and of a prolonged oxygen starvation (adrenal hypoplasia 27.7%, cardiomyopathy 29.7%, hypoxia 48.6%).Conclusions: The initial protein-energy deficiency revealed in the course of the study if accompanied by the course of both acute and chronic oxygen starvation could influence the formation of destructive behavior in the group of juvenile offenders.

use of local kelor (moringa oleifera) leaves powder from West Nusa Tenggara to increase the neutrophile cell phagocyte index and its function on rats with PEM infected by staphylococcus aureus

Indonesia reportedly ranksthird in the prevalence of acute malnutrition in the Asia Pacific.Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) has a high prevalence in the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province with over600 cases reported by the Health Department from January to October 2015, especially among children under five of which 31 cases led to death. Meanwhile, the nutrition status is accurately determined through blood biochemical and hematology tests. The Neutrophil index is an important biomarker in combating infectious agents, such as Staphylococcus aureus which is oftenthe cause of contagious diseases. Individuals suffering from Protein-Energy Malnutrition are most vulnerable to these types of infections. Fortunately, kelor (Moringaoleifera) has been found to have nutritious contents, especially protein and iron (Fe), butits potential has not been extensively explored in the West Nusa Tenggara. This study aims to confirm the effect of the local kelor (Moringa oleifera) leaves powder in increasing the Innate Immune Response of sample rats with Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM). A post-test randomized control group design was used with 20 rats grouped into five with a period of 56 days. The hematology examination used micros 6.0 (CBC-analyzer), neutrophile phagocyte index with gradient density technique, whileall data analyses were conducted using the One-way Anova.

Niemann-pick disease: Type A presenting as a case of protein energy malnutrition

We hereby report a rare case of a young child with Niemann-Pick disease who had multiple hospital admissions due to repeated gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections. The disease is overall quite rare in our population however, our case highlights the fact that in any young child with repeated infections of unknown etiology, this condition should be considered and evaluated.

Asessment of protein energy malnutrition among the 6 to 59 months age children in sinkat locality red sea state

Asessment of protein energy malnutrition among the 6 to 59 months age children in sinkat locality red sea state Poor children feeding practices can lead to malnutrition which is a major public health problem in developing countries including sudan. This cross sectional study was conducted during May 2011 to May 2012 to measure the prevalence rate of PEM among children of 6-59 months age and to assess the knowledge ,attitudes of mothers towards their children nutrition. A stratified sampling techniques were used for selected 384 children . The data collected by questionnaire and anthropometric measurement for weight & height of children and then categorized according to WHO guidelines. The result revealed that the prevalence rate was 72% ,most infected age range between 1 to 3years,only (27% ) of mothers continue breast feeding when children were infected with diarrhoea, also the result indicated that there is a significant relationship between the protein energy malnutrition and age of the children and family size , also the study indicated that the persistent diarrhea or repeated attacks of acute respirotary infection, malaria and measles were underlying causes of PEM particularly for children in border line. Therefore , increasing awareness to mothers about the nutrition ,and improvement of economic status of families is recommended.

Effect of frequency of protein energy supplementation on the performance of Nelore steers during the dry season

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the frequency of provision of protein energy supplementation on pasture during the dry period of the year on the performance of Nelore steers in rearing phase. FAZU teaching school conducted the experiment from July to September 2017. Twenty-two animals of the Nelore breed, aged 12 months and mean initial weight of 232.22 (± 20) kg, modules of 2 ha each, subdivided in six paddocks of Panicum maximum cultivars Mombaça and Tanzânia. The experimental design was completely randomized (DIC) and the averages were compared by the Tukey test at 5% significance. There was no significant difference between the three frequencies of supply of energy protein supplementation, in relation to the average daily weight gain, which were 837; 881 and 855g, at the frequencies of 7; 5 and 3 times per week, respectively. However, there was a significant difference (P <0.05) for the mean daily weight gain between the treatment in which the animals received mineral supplementation (434g), which was lower than the treatments in which the animals were fed with protein energy supplement at the level of 0.25% of body weight. In conclusion, during the period and in the evaluation conditions of this experiment, there was no difference in the effect of the frequency of supply of a protein energy supplement in the supply level of 0.25% of the animals' body weight. The average daily gain was higher for the animals that received the protein energy supplement compared to those supplemented with mineral. Five times a week supplementation obtained the best economic benefit among the evaluated frequencies.