Losses in -carotene and vitamin C due to frying of plantain (Musa paradisiaca) chips

Slices of plantain (unripe and ripe) of 0.5, 1 and 2 mm thickness were fried at 130 ± 5, 150 ± 5 and 170 ± 5°C for 1 to 10 min in refined palm oil. The results obtained showed that -carotene and vitamin C contents decreased significantly with the elevation of the temperature andduration of frying (

Influence of malaria on the serum levels of vitamin A, zinc and calcium of children in Douala-Cameroon

Malaria is an endemic parasitic disease that prevails particularly in warm tropical regions of the world. Micronutrient malnutrition such as vitamin A and iron deficiencies which is a public health problem inCameroon is usually highly prevalent in malaria endemic areas. Characterizing the relationship between micronutrient status (vitamin A, zinc and calcium) and malaria infection among children in Douala town (Cameroon), serum levels of zinc, calcium and vitamin A, were assayed in a total of 116 Cameroonian children (62 controls and 54 malaria patients infected by Plasmodium falciparum) less than six yearsold by colorimetric and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques respectively showed a significantly lower vitamin A and calcium concentrations (P < 0.01) among malaria patients (0.8 ± 0.4ìmol/l and 81.3 ± 23.7 mg/l) as compared to the controls (1.1 ± 0.6 ìmol/l and 96.3 ± 16.7 mg/ml). Vitamin A, calcium and zinc status were lower in 51.85%, 51.85% and 27.27% of malaria patients respectively. Significant correlations (

Predictors of childhood severe malaria in a densely populated area: Douala, Cameroon

The physiopathology of malaria is complex. More understanding would be useful for a better management of the disease. This study was undertaken to describe clinical presentation and some biochemical parameters in childhood malaria in order to identify some factors of disease severity. Eighty six (86) children (0 to 15 years old) were recruited in Douala, clinical data recorded and blood sample collected. Thirty one (31) healthy children were also targeted to serve as control. Blood glucose, hemoglobin, transaminases and nitric oxide were determined by spectrophotometry. C reactive protein (CRP) was also investigated. The results confirmed that severe malaria significantly affects children under 5 years. Severe malaria was associated with hyperpyrexia and prostration. Coma, convulsions and unconsciousness were more indicative of cerebral malaria. Hemoglobin and blood glucose levels decreased significantly in severe malaria patients compared with uncomplicated malaria patients or controls (P &lt; 0.001). On the contrary, blood transaminases and CRP levels increased significantly in malaria patients compared to controls (P &lt; 0.001). From these results, it is clear that childhood severe malaria is associated with prostration, coma, unconsciousness, convulsions and hyperpyrexia. Low levels of haemoglobin and glycemia, as well as high levels of transaminases and CRP has been identified as predictor of malaria severity.Keywords: Childhood malaria, clinical presentation, physiopatholog

Carotenoid stability during storage of yellow gari made from biofortified cassava or with palm oil

The carotenoid composition of gari made from biofortified cassava (BG) was compared to that of existing gari of similar appearance but made from white cassava with added red palm oil (RPG). Storage of both yellow gari products was modelled at ambient temperatures typical of tropical areas (19-40 °C) over a 3 month-period at constant relative humidity. Carotenoid content and hence vitamin A activity of the gari products decreased markedly with time and temperature. Trans-β-carotene degradation fitted well the kinetics predicted by the Arrhenius model, in particular for BG. Activation energies for trans-β-carotene were 60.4 and 81.0 kJ.mol−1 for BG and RPG respectively (R2 = 0.998 and 0.997 respectively): hence the minimum energy to cause degradation of trans-β-carotene in gari was lower with BG. Rates of degradation of 9-cis β-carotene in gari were of the same order as with trans-β-carotene. Although the initial content of trans-β-carotene was twice as high in the BG compared to RPG, trans-β-carotene in BG degraded much faster. Results showed that the average shelf life at ambient temperature for BG was significantly shorter than for RPG and therefore carotenoids in BG were less stable than in RPG

Higher pre-infection vitamin E levels are associated with higher mortality in HIV-1-infected Kenyan women: a prospective study

Background: Low vitamin E levels are often found in HIV-1 infection, and studies have suggested that higher levels may decrease the risk of disease progression. However, vitamin E supplementation has also been reported to increase CCR5 expression, which could increase HIV- 1 replication. We hypothesized that vitamin E levels at HIV-1 acquisition may influence disease progression. Methods: Vitamin E status was measured in stored samples from the last pre-infection visit for 67 Kenyan women with reliably estimated dates of HIV-1 acquisition. Regression analyses were used to estimate associations between pre-infection vitamin E and plasma viral load, time to CD4 count less than 200 cells/[micro]L, and mortality. Results: After controlling for potential confounding factors, each 1 mg/L increase in pre-infection vitamin E was associated with 0.08 log[sub]10 copies/mL (95% CI -0.01 to +0.17) higher set point viral load and 1.58-fold higher risk of mortality (95% CI 1.15�2.16). The association between higher preinfection vitamin E and mortality persisted after adjustment for set point viral load (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.13�2.13). Conclusion: Higher pre-infection vitamin E levels were associated with increased mortality. Further research is needed to elucidate the role vitamin E plays in HIV-1 pathogenesis.This research was supported by National Institutes of Health grants AI-43844 and AI-38518 (all authors), and Fogarty International Center grant D43 TW000007 (SMG)

The survey of serum retinol of the children aged 0~4 years in Zhejiang Province, China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Vitamin A can have a positive impact on growth and development of children, but vitamin A deficiency (VAD) was found to be a public health problem in Zhejiang Province, China in 1998. There have been no studies on this topic in Zhejiang Province recently. This study was designed to evaluate the serum retinol levels of children aged 0~4 years in Zhejiang Province, southeast China. This epidemiological data will help design supplementation strategies for vitamin A in high-risk groups and improve their vitamin A status.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Children were randomly recruited for this study using a stratified sampling method. A blood sample was collected from each child. Assessment included C-reactive protein (CRP), serum retinol measured with HPLC and a questionnaire completed providing for family information and nutritional status. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk factors for VAD in children.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A group of 357 subjects aged 1 day to 4 years were recruited. The mean plasma retinol concentration was 1.653 (sd 0.47) μmol/L. There were 3.08% (11/357) of children affected with VAD, and 7.28% (26/357) of children had low vitamin A status, but none of the children showed any clinical symptoms of VAD. There was no significant difference in the levels of plasma retinol and the incidence rate of VAD between male and female children. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that living in urban region, having parents with good education and taking vitamin A capsule regularly prevented children from VAD, whereas being young (less than 2 years old) was a risk factor.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Low vitamin A status remains a nutritional problem in Zhejiang Province. The high-risk group in this study were young, dwelled in rural regions, had parents with poor education and did not take a regular vitamin A containing supplement.</p

From cassava to gari: Mapping of quality characteristics and end-user preferences in Cameroon and Nigeria

User's preferences of cassava and cassava products along the value chain are supported by specific root quality characteristics that can be linked to root traits. Therefore, providing an evidence base of user preferred characteristics along the value chain, can help in the functional choice of cassava varieties. In this respect, the present paper presents the results from focus group discussions and individual interviews on user preferred quality characteristics of raw cassava roots and the derived product, gari, ‐ one of the major cassava products in Sub Saharan Africa ‐ in major production and consumption areas of Cameroon and Nigeria. Choice of cassava varieties for farming is mainly determined by the multiple end‐uses of the roots, their agricultural yield and the processing determinants of roots that support their major high‐quality characteristics: size, density, low water content, maturity, colour and safety. Processing of cassava roots into gari goes through different technological variants leading to a gari whose high‐quality characteristics are: dryness, colour, shiny/attractive appearance, uniform granules and taste. Eba, the major consumption form of gari in Cameroon and Nigeria is mainly characterized by its textural properties: smoothness, firmness, stickiness, elasticity, mouldability. Recommendations are made, suggesting that breeding will have to start evaluating cassava clones for brightness/shininess, as well as textural properties such as mouldability and elasticity of cassava food products, for the purpose of supporting decision‐making by breeders and the development of high‐throughput selection methods of cassava varieties. Women are identified as important beneficiaries of such initiatives giving their disadvantaged position and their prominent role in cassava processing and marketing of gari

Nutritional survey, staple foods composition and the uses of savoury condiments in Douala, Cameroon

Malnutrition and micronutrients deficiencies are serious public health problems in Cameroon as in other developing countries. Proteins, lipids, crude fibres and carbohydrates content of 15 recipes selected after a survey of 500 families were determined. Total contents ranged between 9.25 ± 0.53 and 16.86 ± 8.85 g/100 g DW for proteins, 10.64 ± 0.9 to 35.72 ± 8.56 g/100 g DW for lipids, 5.57 ± 2.14 to 38.8 ± 1.82 g/100 g for crude fibres and 24.11 ± 9.21 to 62.05 ± 3.02 g/100 g DW for carbohydrates. Glutamate contents of seven flavour enhancers ranged from 2.83% in Honig poulet to 13.87 % (W/W) in Maggi cube. More than 74% of the surveyed subjects regularly used cube-type savory condiments and 26% of the subjects used monosodium L-glutamate (MSG). MSG use was widespread in spite of a national ban on MSG use and importation, indicating high amounts of illegally imported MSG

Mineral content in some Cameroonian household foods eaten in Douala

Malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies associated to emerging chronically diseases are serious public health in Cameroon. The main roots are poverty, and poor knowledge on food composition based on optimal uses of available foods to maintain nutrition security. Sixteen recipes more frequently consumed selected after nutritional survey were cooked in triplicate and their minerals (Ca, Mg, K, P, Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe) content were analysed. Dry weights varied from 11.07 ± 2.58 to 27.87 ± 4.29% fresh matter. Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium contents expressed in mg/100 g ranged from32 ± 0.1 to 878.33 ± 128.77, 48.67 ± 3.5 to 616.33 ± 150.0, 22 ± 3 to 142 ± 5, and 197 ± 34 to 1346.33 ±137.41, respectively. Their zinc, copper, manganese and iron contents were between 0.49 ± 0.06 and 12.08 ± 0.83 mg/100 g, 0.12 ± 0.001 and 0.33 ± 0.02 mg/100 g, 0.05 ± 0.001 and 0.80 ± 0.001, and 1.42 ± 0.55 and 6.61 ± 2.25 mg/100 g, respectively. The recipes could adequately contribute to dietary minerals intake in most of the recipes. However majority these dishes based on cereals, tubers and legumes but poor in animal products can lead to micronutrient because of the presence of antinutritional factors that reduce minerals bioavailability