Effects of foliar application of micronutrients on concentration and bioavailability of zinc and iron in wheat landraces and cultivars

Foliar application of micronutrient is a rapid and promising strategy to enhance the concentration and bioavailability of micronutrients in wheat grain. To explore the effects of foliar application of micronutrients on the concentration and bioavailability of zinc and iron in grain in wheat cultivars and landraces, field experiments were carried out using 65 wheat cultivars and 28 landraces to assess the effects of foliar application of zinc (iron) on phytic acid concentrations, zinc (iron) concentrations and their molar ratios. The results indicated that mean grain zinc concentration of landraces (44.83 mg kg−1) was 11.13% greater than that of cultivars (40.34 mg kg−1) on average across seasons, while grain iron concentration did not differ significantly between landraces (41.00 mg kg−1) and cultivars (39.43 mg kg−1). Foliar zinc application significantly improved the concentration and bioavailability of zinc in grains in both cultivars and landraces, while landraces had almost two-fold more increase in grain zinc and also greater improvement in zinc bioavailability compared to cultivars. While foliar iron application did not significantly affect iron concentration and bioavailability in grains in either cultivars or landraces. Our study showed that, with foliar application of zinc but not iron, wheat landraces had better performance than cultivars in terms of the increases in both concentration and bioavailability of micronutrient in grains.

Effects of Zinc Source and Enzyme Addition on the Fecal Microbiota of Dogs

Supplemental zinc from organic sources has been suggested to be more bioavailable than inorganic ones for dog foods. However, the bioavailability of zinc might be affected by dietary constituents such as phytates. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of two zinc sources (zinc sulfate and zinc proteinate) and the addition of a multi-enzymatic complex from the solid-state fermentation of Aspergillus niger on end-products of fecal fermentation and fecal microbiota of adult Beagles fed a high-phytate diet. The experimental design consisted of three 4 × 4 Latin Squares with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (n = 12 Beagles), with four periods and four diets: zinc sulfate without (IZ) or with (IZ +) enzyme addition, and zinc proteinate without (OZ) or with (OZ +) enzyme addition. Enzyme addition significantly affected Faith’s phylogenetic diversity index, whereas zinc source did not affect either beta or alpha diversity measures. Linear discriminant analysis effect size detected nine taxa as markers for organic zinc, 18 for inorganic source, and none for enzyme addition. However, with the use of a negative binomial generalized linear model, further effects were observed. Organic zinc was associated with a significantly higher abundance of Firmicutes and lower Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, although at a genus level, the response varied. The DNA abundance of Clostridium cluster I, Clostridium cluster XIV, Campylobacter spp., Ruminococcaceae, Turicibacter, and Blautia was significantly higher in dogs fed IZ and IZ + diets. Higher abundance of genus Lactobacillus was observed in dogs fed enzyme-supplemented diets. End-products of fecal fermentation were not affected by zinc source or enzymes. An increase in some taxa of the phyla Actinobacteria and Firmicutes was observed in feces of dogs fed organic zinc with enzyme addition but not with inorganic zinc. This study fills a gap in knowledge regarding the effect of zinc source and enzyme addition on the fecal microbiota of dogs. An association of zinc bioavailability and bacteria abundance is suggested, but the implications for the host (dog) are not clear. Further studies are required to unveil the effects of the interaction between zinc sources and enzyme addition on the fecal microbial community.

Sources, Bioavailability And Adequacy of Zinc Intake Among Rural-Resident Men In Malawi

Background: Zinc deficiency (ZnD), measured using serum zinc (Zn) prevails in 66% of 20–54 year-old men in Malawi, and is higher than that of other demographic groups. We conducted this study to identify local plant and animal sources of Zn; to determine the frequency of intake of Zn-rich foods; and, to assess the bioavailability of Zn in the food sources.Methods: We employed a descriptive cross-sectional study of 20–54 year-old men (n=101) who are residents of a rural area of Lilongwe district in central Malawi. Dietary assessment was done using a food frequency questionnaire and 24-hour dietary recall. Dietary adequacy was assessed using modified NutriSurvey 2007. Zinc bioavailability was estimated using Murphy’s model of algorithm based on FAO/WHO Zn bioavailability factors.Results: Only 20.3% of the participants were knowledgeable of Zn, and mostly cited rice, cassava, sweet potato, milk and fish as sources of Zn. Degermed-dehulled hard porridge (locally called nsima) (53.5%), small fish (30.7%), mangoes (69.3%), groundnuts (20.8%), pumpkin leaves (65.3%) and sunflower oil (24.8%) were the most frequently consumed foods. Slightly over one third (36.6%) of the participants met the recommended dietary allowance for Zn (mean intake of 14.4±14 mg), but ˂1% consumed Zn that was bioavailable (mean 2.2±2.5 mg).Conclusion: Habitual intake of plant-based diets with poorly bioavailable Zn was widespread among men in this rural population in Malawi, which led to inadequate dietary Zn intake. Food systems-based operational research should be conducted to understand barriers and facilitators of adequate intake of bioavailable Zn in rural areas of Malawi.

Effects of Zinc Sources and Levels on Growth Performance, Zinc Status, Expressions of Zinc Transporters, and Zinc Bioavailability in Weaned Piglets

The present study was conducted to explore the bioavailability of chitosan–zinc chelate (CS–Zn) in weaned piglets, and its characteristics of prepared and oral safety were also involved. A total of 210 crossbred weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large White) with a mean body weight of 6.30 kg were randomly assigned into seven dietary treatments involving a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement with two Zn sources (CS–Zn and ZnSO4) and three levels of added Zn (50, 100, 150 mg Zn/kg) plus a Zn-unsupplemented control diet. The feeding trial lasted 42 days. The AFM image of CS–Zn showed a rougher appearance and smaller size particles. The changes in spectrum peaks evidenced the successful chelating of Zn2+ with chitosan. The XRD patterns revealed the formation of a new crystalline phase. Moreover, the oral acute toxicity test of CS–Zn showed no lethal effects on mice. Weaned piglets fed dietary CS–Zn showed improved weight gain and decreased diarrhea incidence. Additionally, the bioavailability of CS–Zn was higher than that of ZnSO4 in piglets. Taken together, these results indicate that the prepared CS–Zn chelate, with rough surface and crystalline phase, is non-toxic and show enhanced bioavailability.

Proximate composition and GC-MS analysis of ethanol extract of Solanum spirale Roxb.

Solanum spirale Roxb. is abundantly grown in eastern Himalayan regions. The shoot is used as a vegetable as well as medicine to control high blood pressure. The present study was carried out to profile the phytochemical compositions, mineral contents and proximate composition of the Solanum spirale shoot. GC-MS was used for the identification of phytochemicals and methods described in standard protocols were used to study minerals and proximate composition. A total of 40 phytochemicals were recorded from the ethanol extract. Mineral contents of the sample 0.115 (Fe), 0.07 (Mn), 0.015 (Cu), 0.040 (Zn), 2.25 (Mg), 3.08 (Na) and 16.7 (K) mg/g while proximate composition were 76.25± 0.093 % (moisture)3.82±0.26 % (Carbohydrate), 12.54±0.08% (Total ash), 0.39±0.98% (Crude protein), 6.12±1.07 % (Crude fibre), 0.37±0.07 % (Crude fat). (Z,Z)-6,9-Cis-3,4-epoxy-nonadecadiene occupied highest area percentage in TIC peak report with 24.55%, followed by Pentadecanoic acid with 18.81 percent, with Pentadecane with 9.99%, Hexadecanoicacid, Ethyl ester with 8.64%, (2E)(7R,11R)-3,7,11,15-Tetramethylhexadec-2-en-1-ol with 7.75%. Useful phytocompounds related to health problems including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, cardioprotective, hypocholesterolemic, increase zinc bioavailability, inhibit uric acid formation, antibacterial, anti-inflamatory, antioxidant etc. are major components and such findings advocate Solanum spirale as a nutraceutical herb.