Assessment of Available Micronutrients Status in the Soils of Melur Block, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, Using GIS and GPS Techniques

A soil resource inventory was conducted at village level in the Melur block of Madurai district, Tamil Nadu to assess the micronutrients status in the soils and to prepare fertility maps depicting the extent of soil micronutrient deficiency/sufficiency using GIS and GPS techniques. Soil samples were collected at revenue village wise along with geo coordinates and analysed for available micronutrients such as Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn by adopting standard procedures. Based on the nutrient status, the soils were grouped as deficient or sufficient using the critical limits. Per cent deficiency of micronutrients in Melur block was worked out and the thematic maps showing status of different available micronutrients were generated. The results indicated that, Fe and Zn deficiency is most prevalent in the soils of Melur block in Madurai district to an extent of more than 35 per cent, followed by Cu (1.1%) and Mn (10%).

Serum Micronutrients as related to Childhood Pneumonia Severity and Outcome in a Nigerian Health Facility

Introduction: Micronutrients are essential minerals and vitamins needed for optimal health. There are however conflicting reports about the roles of micronutrients in severity and outcomes of childhood pneumonia. This study aims to determine the socio-demographic and serum micronutrients – Zinc (Zn), Selenium (Se), Vitamins (Vit) A, C and E status of Nigerian children with or without pneumonia and relate these to pneumonia severity and outcome. Methodology: Children aged two months to 14 years with severe and non-severe pneumonia were recruited with age and sex-matched controls over 12 month period in a Nigerian tertiary health centre. Relevant history and serum micronutrients were compared in the two groups and related to pneumonia severity and length of hospitalisation (LOH). Results: One hundred and forty-four children (72 for each group) were recruited with median (IQR) age 1.6 (0.6 – 4.0) years and fifty-six (38.8%) had severe pneumonia. Pneumonia incidence was associated with undernutrition, inappropriate immunisation and Zn deficiency (p < 0.05). Hypovitaminosis A [60.8(22.2)µg/dl vs. 89.5(34.7)µg/dl; p < 0.001], low serum Zn [71.6(32.5)µg/dl vs. 92.6(24.6)µg/dl; p=0.019] and indoor air pollution (IAP) were associated with pneumonia severity. However, only IAP (OR = 4.529; 95%CI 1.187–17.284; p=0.027) and Zn deficiency (OR=6.144; 95%CI 1.157–32.617; p=0.033) independently predicted severe pneumonia. No significant correlation between serum micronutrients and LOH. Conclusions: Exposure to IAP and low serum micronutrients particularly Zn and Vit A were associated with pneumonia incidence and severity in Nigerian children. Routine micronutrient supplementation may assist to reduce the burden of childhood pneumonia in developing countries.

Transcriptional Regulation of Genes Involved in Zinc Uptake, Sequestration and Redistribution Following Foliar Zinc Application to Medicago sativa

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient for plants and animals, and Zn deficiency is a widespread problem for agricultural production. Although many studies have been performed on biofortification of staple crops with Zn, few studies have focused on forages. Here, the molecular mechanisms of Zn transport in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) were investigated following foliar Zn applications. Zinc uptake and redistribution between shoot and root were determined following application of six Zn doses to leaves. Twelve putative genes encoding proteins involved in Zn transport (MsZIP1-7, MsZIF1, MsMTP1, MsYSL1, MsHMA4, and MsNAS1) were identified and changes in their expression following Zn application were quantified using newly designed RT-qPCR assays. These assays are the first designed specifically for alfalfa and resulted in being more efficient than the ones already available for Medicago truncatula (i.e., MtZIP1-7 and MtMTP1). Shoot and root Zn concentration was increased following foliar Zn applications ≥ 0.1 mg plant−1. Increased expression of MsZIP2, MsHMA4, and MsNAS1 in shoots, and of MsZIP2 and MsHMA4 in roots was observed with the largest Zn dose (10 mg Zn plant−1). By contrast, MsZIP3 was downregulated in shoots at Zn doses ≥ 0.1 mg plant−1. Three functional gene modules, involved in Zn uptake by cells, vacuolar Zn sequestration, and Zn redistribution within the plant, were identified. These results will inform genetic engineering strategies aimed at increasing the efficiency of crop Zn biofortification.

Iron- and Zinc-Fortified Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) Demonstrate Enhanced and Stable Iron Bioavailability After Storage

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is a quick-cooking, rapidly expanding protein-rich crop with high iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), but low bioavailability due to the presence of phytate, similar to other grains. Lentils dual fortified with Fe and Zn can significantly improve the bioavailable Fe and Zn content. Three milled lentil product types (LPTs) were fortified with Fe using NaFeEDTA [ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid iron (III) sodium salt] (Fe fortified) or Zn from ZnSO4·H2O (Zn fortified), or both (dual fortified). Fe, Zn, phytic acid (PA) concentration, and relative Fe bioavailability (RFeB%) were assessed for samples from two fortified batches (initial and for 1 year stored). Fe, Zn, and RFeB% increased significantly in two batches of samples from the three LPTs, and decreased by 5–15% after 1 year of storage. PA concentration decreased from 8 to 15% after fortification of all samples from two batches of the three LPTs but showed different patterns of influence after storage. Dual-fortified lentil fortified with 24 mg Fe and 12 mg Zn 100 g−1 lentil had the highest amount of Fe and Zn, and the lowest PA concentration, and RFeB% was increased from 91.3 to 519.5%. Significant (p ≤ 0.01) Pearson correlations were observed between Fe concentration vs. PA:Fe molar ratio (MR), Fe concentration vs. RFeB%, RFeB% vs. PA:Fe MR, and Zn concentration vs. PA:Zn MR in all samples from two batches of the three LPTs. In conclusion, dual-fortified lentil can contribute significant bioavailable Fe and Zn to populations at risk of Fe and Zn deficiency.

A Comparative Study of the Bioavailability of Fe, Cu and Zn from Gluten-Free Breads Enriched with Natural and Synthetic Additives

The aim of this study was to compare the bioavailability of iron, copper and zinc from newly designed gluten-free breads enriched with natural and synthetic additives. The study was conducted on rats with induced Fe, Cu and Zn deficiency. The nutritional intervention with diets supplemented with a 70% addition of gluten-free breads enriched with natural additives and organic compounds to the control diet AIN-93M lasted 40 days. After the intervention, the rats were euthanized, the organs were collected and their mineral content was measured. Chemical analysis of diets with the addition of fortified gluten-free breads showed significantly higher amounts of iron, zinc and copper in diets with the addition of fortified breads compared to diets with the addition of unenriched breads. The type of additives did not influence the amount of minerals in diets. It is necessary to conduct further research to explain the interactions of ingredients and the factors affecting the bioavailability of Fe, Cu and Zn from gluten-free breads in order to obtain a product with a high bioavailability of these ingredients.

Evaluation of Serum Copper and Zinc Concentrations in Relation to Clinical Status among Adult People Living with HIV/AIDS in North-West Ethiopia

Aims: To evaluate serum copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentration in relation to clinical status among people living with HIV/AIDS for possible interventions. Study Design: A cross-sectional study design was used. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted between January and February 2013 in Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Methods: Serum concentrations of Cu and Zn from 150 people living with HIV/AIDS were measured using a fully automated flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Besides, world health organization (WHO) clinical staging, CD4+ T-cell count, CD8+ T-cell count, hemoglobin determination, and Body Mass Index (BMI) were performed to evaluate the clinical status of study participants. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that being serum Zn and Cu deficient was higher where there is no antiretroviral therapy (ART) than on ART (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=3.56, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.52-8.33, P=0.003 and 5.85, 95% CI=1.22-28.058, P= 0.027respectively).Similarly, the odds of being serum Zn deficient were significantly associated to lower BMI than normal (AOR=2.61, 95% CI=1.02 - 6.67, P= 0.046) and abnormal hemoglobin was found to be a factor to having high serum Cu/Zn ratio than normal hemoglobin (AOR=3.26, 95% CI=1.07 - 9.94, P= 0.038). Conclusions: A relatively high percentage of subjects had serum Cu and Zn deficiency and high serum Cu/Zn ratio. Early evaluation of serum Cu and Zn deficiency should be carried out and mineral supplementation along with antiretroviral treatment should be provided for pre-ART, malnourished and anemic people living with HIV/AIDS.

Transcriptional regulation of genes involved in Zn transport after foliar Zn application to Medicago sativa

ABSTRACTZinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient for both plants and animals, and Zn deficiency is one of the most widespread problems for agricultural production. Although many studies have been performed on the biofortification of staple crops with Zn, few studies have focused on forage crops. In this study the molecular mechanisms of Zn transport-related in Medicago sativa L. were investigated following foliar Zn applications aimed at increasing the accumulation of Zn in edible tissues. Zinc uptake and redistribution between shoot and root were determined following the application of six Zn doses to leaves (0, 0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 10 mg Zn plant-1). Twelve putative genes encoding proteins involved in Zn transport (MsZIP1-7, MsZIF1, MsMTP1, MsYSL1, MsHMA4 and MsNAS1) were identified and the changes in their expression following foliar Zn application were quantified using newly designed RT-qPCR assays. Shoot and root Zn concentration was increased following foliar Zn applications ≥ 0.1 mg plant-1. Increased expression of MsZIP2, MsHMA4 and MsNAS1 in shoots, and of MsZIP2 and MsHMA4 in roots, was observed with the largest Zn dose. By contrast, MsZIP3 was downregulated in shoots at Zn doses ≥ 0.1 mg plant-1. Three functional modules were identified in the M. sativa response to foliar Zn application: genes involved in Zn uptake by cells, genes involved in vacuolar Zn sequestration and genes involved in Zn redistribution within the plant. These results will inform genetic engineering strategies aimed at increasing the efficiency of crop Zn biofortification.One-sentence summaryUpregulation of ZIP2, NASI and HMA4 and downregulation of ZIP3 are associated with Zn sequestration and shoot-to-root translocation in Medicago sativa following foliar Zn biofortification

Impact of the trace element status on the course of ankylosing spondylitis in the Orenburg Region patients

The role of trace elements (TEs) and their imbalance in the physiology of bone tissue and in the development of inflammatory diseases of the joints and spine has been discussed in recent years; however, there is no evidence for the TE status of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and its possible impact on the course of the disease.Objective: to investigate the impact of the TE status of patients with AS on the course, clinical manifestations, and activity of the disease.Patients and methods. Examinations were made in 58 patients (39 men and 19 women), residents of the Orenburg Region, with a reliable diagnosis of AS, the duration of which was 16 [11; 26] years. The patients’ mean age was 38 [31; 48] years. HLA-B27 antigen was detected in 91.4% of cases. In addition to the generally accepted examination, atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to determine the hair levels of 9 TEs: Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cr, Co, Ni, Pb, and Cd in all the patients.Results and discussion. The AS patients living in the Orenburg Region showed TE imbalance manifested by Cu and Zn deficiency and Ni, Cr, and Mn accumulation in the hair. Multidirectional correlations were found between the values of these TEs and the presence of extra-axial (peripheral arthritis, dactylitis) and extra-skeletal (uveitis) manifestations of AS, its activity, and severity of functional disorders.Conclusion. The preliminary results may suggest that the emerging imbalance of TEs can affect the course of AS, maintaining and increasing its activity.