Nutritional properties of enriched local complementary flours

Abstract: This study aimed to identify the nutritional, functional, sensory and microbiological profile of experimental nutritional flours, produced with local products in Burkina Faso. The raw materials included maize (Zea mays), millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and rice (Oryza sativa). Local ingredients were pulps of Adansonia digitata and Parkia biglobosa and seeds of Cucurbita maxima and Moringa oleifera. Three formula were developed, the first (F1) with maize, the second (F2) with rice and the last (F3) with millet. Each of these cereals was mixed with predetermined portions of seeds and pulps in order to obtain enriched flour. Nutritional, microbiological and functional analysis and the acceptability criteria of these enriched flours were assessed and compared to Misola (F4), the existing local complementary flour. The fat content of experimental flours were respectively in the first (F1), second (F2) and third formula (F3) 15.91±0.01%, 11.82±0.02% and 17.02±0.02%. The carbohydrate range was 65.46±0.06%, 70.81±0.01% and 64.51±0.01% for F1, F2 and F3, while the energetic value is higher than recommended (453.07±0.05, 424.56±0.03 and 458.96±0.05 kcal respectively for F1, F2 and F3). Functional characteristics indicated the good viscosity (117, 119 and 121 mm/30 sec for F1, F2 and F3) least gelation (9, 6 and 7%) and water absorption capacity (2, 4 and 1 g/g). Trained sensory evaluation panellists gore the enriched flour porridge a score of acceptable. These enriched flours have great potential as a weaning food in resource-poor and technologically under-developed countries

Abundances of Iron-Binding Photosynthetic and Nitrogen-Fixing Proteins of Trichodesmium Both in Culture and In Situ from the North Atlantic

Marine cyanobacteria of the genus Trichodesmium occur throughout the oligotrophic tropical and subtropical oceans, where they can dominate the diazotrophic community in regions with high inputs of the trace metal iron (Fe). Iron is necessary for the functionality of enzymes involved in the processes of both photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation. We combined laboratory and field-based quantifications of the absolute concentrations of key enzymes involved in both photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation to determine how Trichodesmium allocates resources to these processes. We determined that protein level responses of Trichodesmium to iron-starvation involve down-regulation of the nitrogen fixation apparatus. In contrast, the photosynthetic apparatus is largely maintained, although re-arrangements do occur, including accumulation of the iron-stress-induced chlorophyll-binding protein IsiA. Data from natural populations of Trichodesmium spp. collected in the North Atlantic demonstrated a protein profile similar to iron-starved Trichodesmium in culture, suggestive of acclimation towards a minimal iron requirement even within an oceanic region receiving a high iron-flux. Estimates of cellular metabolic iron requirements are consistent with the availability of this trace metal playing a major role in restricting the biomass and activity of Trichodesmium throughout much of the subtropical ocean

Asymptomatic Malaria Correlates with Anaemia in Pregnant Women at Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Sub-Saharan Africa records each year about thirty-two million pregnant women living in areas of high transmission of Plasmodium falciparum causing malaria. The aim of this study was to carve out the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria among pregnant women and to emphasize its influence on haematological markers. The prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum asymptomatic infection among pregnant women was 30% and 24% with rapid detection test (RDT) and microscopy, respectively. The prevalence of P. falciparum asymptomatic malaria was reduced among pregnant women using sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine's intermittent preventive treatment and 61% of them were anaemic. Anaemia was significantly more common in women infected with P. falciparum compared with the uninfected pregnant women. Most of the women had normal levels of homocysteine and low levels of folate, respectively. Therefore, the systematic diagnosis of malaria should be introduced to pregnant women as a part of the antenatal care

Asymptomatic Malaria Correlates with Anaemia in Pregnant Women at Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Sub-Saharan Africa records each year about thirty-two million pregnant women living in areas of high transmission of Plasmodium falciparum causing malaria. The aim of this study was to carve out the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria among pregnant women and to emphasize its influence on haematological markers. The prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum asymptomatic infection among pregnant women was 30% and 24% with rapid detection test (RDT) and microscopy, respectively. The prevalence of P. falciparum asymptomatic malaria was reduced among pregnant women using sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine's intermittent preventive treatment and 61% of them were anaemic. Anaemia was significantly more common in women infected with P. falciparum compared with the uninfected pregnant women. Most of the women had normal levels of homocysteine and low levels of folate, respectively. Therefore, the systematic diagnosis of malaria should be introduced to pregnant women as a part of the antenatal care

Renin-Angiotensin System Genes Polymorphisms and Essential Hypertension in Burkina Faso, West Africa

Objective. This study aimed to investigate the association between three polymorphisms of renin-angiotensin system and the essential hypertension in the population of Burkina Faso. Methodology. This was a case-control study including 202 cases and 204 matched controls subjects. The polymorphisms were identified by a classical and a real-time PCR. Results. The AGT 235M/T and AT1R 1166A/C polymorphisms were not associated with the hypertension while the genotype frequencies of the ACE I/D polymorphism between patients and controls (DD: 66.83% and 35.78%, ID: 28.22% and 50.98%, II: 4.95% and 13.24%, resp.) were significantly different (p < 10−4). The genotype DD of ACE gene (OR = 3.40, p < 0.0001), the increasing age (OR = 3.83, p < 0.0001), obesity (OR = 4.84, p < 0.0001), dyslipidemia (OR = 3.43, p = 0.021), and alcohol intake (OR = 2.76, p < 0.0001) were identified as the independent risk factors for hypertension by multinomial logistic regression. Conclusion. The DD genotype of the ACE gene is involved in susceptibility to hypertension. Further investigations are needed to better monitor and provide individualized care for hypertensive patients

Multi‐response optimization of extrusion conditions of grain amaranth flour by response surface methodology

The study was designed to optimize extrusion processing conditions for production of instant grain amaranth flour for complementary feeding. Multi-response criteria using response surface methodology and desirability function analysis were employed during the study. The central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was used to determine the level of processing variables and to generate the experimental runs. The process parameters tested included extrusion temperature (110–158°C), screw speed (40–52 Hz), and feed moisture content (11%–16%), while response variable was protein digestibility, sensory acceptability, water absorption index, water solubility index, bulk density, and viscosity. Data obtained from extrusion were analyzed using response surface methodology. Data were fitted to a second-order polynomial model, and the dependent variables expressed as a function of the independent variables. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that extrusion parameters had significant linear, quadratic, and interactive effects on the responses. Numerical optimization indicated that the optimum extrusion parameters were extrusion temperature of 150°C, extrusion speed (screw speed) of 50 Hz, and feed moisture content of 14.41%. The responses predicted for optimization resulted in protein digestibility 81.87%, water absorption index 1.92, water solubility index 0.55, bulk density 0.59 gm/L, viscosity 174.56 cP (14.55 RVU), and sensory acceptability score of 6.69, with 71% desirability

Undernutrition in children aged 0–59 months by region and over time: secondary analysis of the Burkina Faso 2012–2018 National Nutrition Surveys

Objectives The aim of this study is to look at spatial and temporal trends in undernutrition in children under 5 years age in Burkina Faso.Setting We used data from annual National Nutrition Surveys using Standardised Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions methodology (anthropometry, morbidity) over 7 years (2012–2018) in Burkina Faso.Participants Children of under 5 years from households selected through systemic sampling at countrywide level.Main outcome measures Prevalence of stunting (height-for-age z-score, &lt;−2), underweight (weight-for-age z-score, &lt;−2) and wasting (weight-for-height z-score, &lt;−2) at regional and national. We used general linear mixed models, adjusted by age, survey year, sex, presence of fever and/or diarrhoea, and poverty index to quantify the risk of undernutrition over time and by region of residence.Results Between 2012 and 2018, decreases were observed overall in the prevalence of growth retardation (stunting) decreased from 33.0% (95% CI 32.3 to 33.8) in 2012 to 26.7% (95% CI 26.2 to 27.3) in 2018. Underweight reduced from 24.4% (95% CI 23.7 to 25.1) to 18.7% (95% CI 18.2 to 19.2) for the same period and wasting decreased from 10.8% (95% CI 10.3 to 11.3) in 2012 to 8.4% (95% CI 8.1 to 8.8) in 2018. However, there was substantial variation across the country, with increased risk of undernutrition in the regions of Sahel, East and Cascades primarily. High-risk regions were characterised by a lower poverty index and limited access to healthcare services.Conclusions Our findings could inform national policymakers in refining and optimising resource allocation based on the identification of high-risk areas