Dietary β-Cryptoxanthin and α-Carotene Have Greater Apparent Bioavailability Than β-Carotene in Subjects from Countries with Different Dietary Patterns

β-carotene, α-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin are greater contributors to vitamin A intake than retinol in the human diet for most people around the world. Their contribution depends on several factors, including bioavailability and capacity of conversion into retinol. There is an increasing body of research showing that the use of retinol activity equivalents or retinol equivalents could lead to the underestimation of the contribution of β-cryptoxanthin and of α-carotene. The aim is to assess their apparent bioavailability by comparing concentrations in blood to their dietary intakes and identifying the major food contributors to their dietary intake. Dietary intake (3-day 24-h records) and serum concentrations (by HPLC) were calculated in normolipemic subjects with adequate retinol status (≥1.1 µmol/L) from our studies (n = 633) and apparent bioavailability calculated from 22 other studies (n = 29,700). Apparent bioavailability was calculated as the ratio of concentration in the blood to carotenoid intake. Apparent bioavailabilities for α-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin were compared to those for β-carotene. Eating comparable amounts of α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene foods resulted in 55% greater α-carotene (95% CI 35, 90) and 686% higher β-cryptoxanthin (95% CI 556, 1016) concentrations than β-carotene in blood. This suggests differences in the apparent bioavailability of α-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin and even larger differences with β-cryptoxanthin, greater than that of β-carotene. Four fruits (tomato, orange, tangerine, red pepper) and two vegetables (carrot, spinach) are the main contributors to their dietary intake (>50%) in Europeans.

Effect of sweet chestnut extract (Farmatan®) on the digestibility and bioavailability of nitrogen and some minerals in the laboratory rats

Study was conducted to investigate the dietary effect of hydrolysable tannin from sweet chestnut on the protein digestibility and bioavailability, dry matter and organic matter apparent digestibility and apparent digestibility and apparent bioavailability of some mineral elements. Ten male Wistar rats (98.9 g ± 25.6 g of body mass) were fed ad libitum with balanced diets. In the experimental diet 0.1 % of sweet chestnut extract (SCE) was added to the diet. Five days balance experiment takes place after fifteen days of adaptive period. SCE did not have any influence on the protein quality measurements or dry matter and organic matter apparent digestibility. Tannin significantly (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05) decreased the digestibility and bioavailability of Ca and Fe. The digestibility of Na was unchanged (97.76 % and 97.31 % in control and SCE group, respectively), but bioavailability significantly decreased in SCE group (53.16 %) as compared to the control group (74.17 %). On the contrary, the apparent digestibility of Se significantly increased, (64.25 %) in SCE group compared to the control group (52.31 %).

Nutritional quality evaluation of surimi and kamaboko obtained from mechanically separated chicken meat

Purpose – The purpose of this paper was to determine the nutritional quality of the surimi and kamaboko obtained from mechanically separated chicken meat and evaluate the bioavailability of essential amino acids found in these products. Design/methodology/approach – The mechanically separated chicken meat (MSCM) was characterized by the proximate composition, and the surimi and kamaboko were characterized by in vitro digestibility, determination of chemical score of amino acids and apparent bioavailability. Findings – The MSCM contains 68.1 ± 0.5, 12.9 ± 0.24, 18.5 ± 0.28 and 0.6 ± 0.06 per cent moisture, protein, lipids and ash, respectively. The moisture of the MSCM (surimi) was 80.45 ± 0.15 per cent, and the protein was 10.04 ± 0.21 per cent. The highest digestibility was found for the kamaboko (92.27 per cent) which was heat-treated and the lowest was for surimi (90.82 per cent). Histidine is a limiting amino acid. In this study, the surimi showed 84.69 per cent and the kamaboko presented 81.31 per cent of the minimum requirement for adults. In relation to the apparent bioavailability, there was a decrease of surimi to kamaboko of 2.52 per cent of the limiting amino acid histidine. The surimi and the kamaboko presented 76.94 and 75 per cent of the minimum requirement for adults, respectively. Originality/value – The application of the surimi technology in the production of a surimi-like material from mechanically deboned chicken meat provides a new approach toward increasing its value and utilization, e.g. for the development of meat-based products and analogs, as alternative protein sources, the surimi and the kamaboko exhibited a high content of essential amino acids, indicating that the protein has a relatively high nutritional quality.

Nutritional quality evaluation of Whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) protein isolate

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to isolate Whitemouth croaker protein by alkaline solubilization process and evaluate their nutritional quality to evaluate the bioavailability of essential amino acids. Design/methodology/approach – The proximate composition, essential amino acid composition, in vitro digestibility, apparent bioavailability, chemical score of amino acids and SDS-PAGE were determined for the isolated croaker proteins. Findings – The isolated protein showed a high level of protein 92.21 percent and low amount of lipids 0.57 percent. The protein is rich in lysine and leucine, 108.73 and 96.75 mg/g protein, respectively. The protein isolate had high digestibility, 94.32 percent, which indicates proper utilization of this protein source, while the tryptophan had lower bioavailability (12.58 mg amino acid/mg protein). The high chemical scores were found for the amino acids lysine, methionine+cysteine (6.79 and 5.14). SDS-PAGE of proteins extracted showed appearance of the heavy chain of myosin (220 kDa), actin (50 kDa) and other fractions, with molecular weight between 20 and 50 kDa, such as troponin I, C and T. Originality/value – The products obtained from croaker muscle can be incorporated as a high value supplements in human diets. The isolated protein exhibited a high content of essential amino acids and digestibility, indicating that the protein has a high nutritional quality.

Joint Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Zidovudine, Lamivudine, and Their Active Intracellular Metabolites in HIV Patients

ABSTRACTThe population pharmacokinetic parameters of zidovudine (AZT), lamivudine (3TC), and their active intracellular metabolites in 75 naïve HIV-infected patients receiving an oral combination of AZT and 3TC twice daily as part of their multitherapy treatment in the COPHAR2-ANRS 111 trial are described. Four blood samples per patient were taken after 2 weeks of treatment to measure drug concentrations at steady state. Plasma AZT and 3TC concentrations were measured in 73 patients, and among those, 62 patients had measurable intracellular AZT-TP and 3TC-TP concentrations. For each drug, a joint population pharmacokinetic model was developed and we investigated the influence of different covariates. We then studied correlations between the mean plasma and intracellular concentrations of each drug. A one-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination best described the plasma AZT concentration, with an additional compartment for intracellular AZT-TP. A similar model but with zero-order absorption was found to adequately described concentrations of 3TC and its metabolite 3TC-TP. The half-lives of AZT and 3TC were 0.81 h (94.8%) and 2.97 h (39.2%), respectively, whereas the intracellular half-lives of AZT-TP and 3TC-TP were 10.73 h (69%) and 21.16 h (44%), respectively. We found particularly a gender effect on the apparent bioavailability of AZT, as well as on the mean plasma and intracellular concentrations of AZT, which were significantly higher in females than in males. Relationships between mean plasma drug and intracellular metabolite concentrations were also highlighted both for AZT and for 3TC. Simulation with the model of plasma and intracellular concentrations for once- versus twice-daily regimens suggested that a daily dosing regimen with double doses could be appropriate.

Microencapsulation of Ferrous Fumarate for the Production of Salt Double Fortified with Iron and Iodine

The fortification of salt with iron may greatly reduce the prevalence of iron deficiency globally, but fortification is complicated by iron-iodine interactions. To minimize this interaction, a spray dry microencapsulation system was developed. This study evaluates the creation and use of this system, producing engineered iron premixes for integration into coarse iodized salt. Bioavailable ferrous fumarate powders were encapsulated via spray-drying to produce particles which are too small to be detected visually (<20?m). Feed systems containing both suspended and dissolved ferrous fumarate were compared to find optimal feed conditions. The premixes were blended into iodized salt at 1000ppm-iron and stored at 40°C, ~60 percent RH. The salt was sampled periodically for 6 months to evaluate the effect on iodine stability. All encapsulated samples were more stable than the unencapsulated samples. The capsules ability to adhere to the salt as well as its colour and apparent bioavailability were evaluated. Stable double-fortified salt based on inexpensive, coarse, unrefined salt may be obtained economically by this approach.