Effect of packaging materials and storage conditions on the microbial quality of pearl millet sourdough bread.

Sourdough is one of the oldest methods of cereal fermentation applied mainly for the sole purpose of baking and has been proven to enhance the production of microbiologically safe products. This study investigated the effect of packaging materials and storage conditions on the microbial quality and some intrinsic parameters of the sourdough bread. Pearl millet flour was naturally fermented for 72 h to obtain sourdough which was used with pearl millet flour to produce sourdough bread while the control bread was produced with pearl millet flour and yeast. The bread samples were packaged in low density polyethylene and aluminium foil and stored at -5, 4, 6, 28 and 37 °C. The total bacteria count (log cfu/g) and total fungal count (spore/g) increased with an increase in storage temperature and storage days. Fungi colonies isolated from stored bread samples include species of Rhizopus, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Mucor. A significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in the pH and decrease in the moisture content of the bread samples were observed as storage period and storage temperature increased. Sourdough fermentation improved the microbial qualities and extended the shelf life of bread.

Inventory on the dietary assessment tools available and needed in africa: a prerequisite for setting up a common methodological research infrastructure for nutritional surveillance, research, and prevention of diet-related non-communicable diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To carry out an inventory on the availability, challenges, and needs of dietary assessment (DA) methods in Africa as a pre-requisite to provide evidence, and set directions (strategies) for implementing common dietary methods and support web-research infrastructure across countries. METHODS: The inventory was performed within the framework of the "Africa's Study on Physical Activity and Dietary Assessment Methods" (AS-PADAM) project. It involves international institutional and African networks. An inventory questionnaire was developed and disseminated through the networks. Eighteen countries responded to the dietary inventory questionnaire. RESULTS: Various DA tools were reported in Africa; 24-Hour Dietary Recall and Food Frequency Questionnaire were the most commonly used tools. Few tools were validated and tested for reliability. Face-to-face interview was the common method of administration. No computerized software or other new (web) technologies were reported. No tools were standardized across countries. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of comparable DA methods across represented countries is a major obstacle to implement comprehensive and joint nutrition-related programmes for surveillance, programme evaluation, research, and prevention. There is a need to develop new or adapt existing DA methods across countries by employing related research infrastructure that has been validated and standardized in other settings, with the view to standardizing methods for wider use.

Variations in micronutrient concentrations and retentions in fufu made from yellow-fleshed cassava as a function of genotype and processing methods.

Introduction: The biofortification of staple foods such as cassava is one of the technological breakthroughs in the nutritional improvement of foods. Fufu is one of the fermented cassava products produced and consumed in major West African countries, including Sierra Leone, and the majority of the processes involved in its production have direct and indirect effects on its properties. This study looked at how the concentration and retention of micronutrients in yellow-fleshed cassava fufu varied depending on genotype and processing method. Methods: Six yellow-fleshed cassava root genotypes (TMS-070557, TMS-011371, TMS-011412, TMS-011663, TMS-083724, TMS-083774) and one white (TME 419 as a control) were processed into fufu using both conventional (oven and sun-dried) and traditional (bowl and river) methods. The Statistical Analysis System (SAS) version 9.4 was used to analyze data using means, percentages, analysis of variance and means separated by least significant differences (LSD). Results and Discussion: In the modified traditional river method, raw and cooked fufu samples had significantly higher ß-carotene concentrations and true retention (TR) percentages (11.06 g/g (46.77%) and 4.54 g/g (16.94%), respectively) than other genotypes (p < 0.0001). Modified traditional fufu processing methods increased total ß-carotene concentrations, while raw roots showed a significant decrease in total carotenoid and ß-carotene concentrations, regardless of genotype or processing method. Sun-drying was the most effective method, with significantly higher concentrations and TR percentages of iron (10.01 mg/kg, 18.02%) and zinc (11.49 mg/kg, 40.64%) in raw and cooked fufu samples. Genotype TMS-083724 outperformed both conventional fufu processing methods, displaying a significant total carotenoid concentration and true retention percentage. Finally, this study found that the concentrations and percentages of TR of micronutrients varied depending on the processing method and genotype. It is recommended that a modified traditional river fufu processing method be further developed and improved in order to maximize provitamin A carotenoids, concentrations, and percentage TR.

Dietary diversity, nutritional status, and agricultural commercialization: evidence from adult men of rural farm households.

Access to healthy and affordable diet hinged on the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 2, higher productivity and, economic prosperity while it is difficult for a poorly nourished people to achieve optimum production of goods and services. This study assessed whether dietary diversity (DD) and nutritional status of adult men are associated with crop commercialization index (CCI) levels of agricultural households in two states of Southwestern Nigeria. This research utilized 352 farm households, comprising 277 adult male members. The individual version of dietary diversity score (DDS) of 9 food groups was used to calculate adult men's DDS over a 24-h recall. Anthropometric data was obtained using body mass index (BMI) while CCI levels was estimated for each agricultural household. Logistic regression and ordered logit models were used to examine the determinants of adult men's dietary diversity and nutritional status respectively. Hundred percent of adult men consumed starchy staples, with 11.2% consuming egg, 5.8% milk and milk products and 0.4% consuming organ meat over 24-h recall. Adult men of CCI 2 and CCI 4 agricultural households recorded overweight prevalence of >20% in Ogun state while the association between DDS and CCI was statistically insignificant suggesting that being a member of any of the CCI households may not guarantee the consumption of healthy diets among adult men. From Logit regression analysis, it is more likely for adult men with higher farm size to attain the minimum DDS of 4 food groups than those with smaller size of farmland (OR = 4.78; 95% CI: 1.94, 11.76; p = 0.001). The age, farm experience, and cassava marketing experience were positively related to the likelihood of obtaining the minimum DDS. For adult men to achieve a healthy diet, their diet pattern must incorporate a more diversified intake of food from different food groups capable of improving their nutritional status. This study emphasized the need for relevant stakeholders to provide adequate nutrition knowledge intervention programmes capable of improving the diets and nutrition of adult men and other members of farm households.

Dietary diversity, environment and health-related factors of under-five children: evidence from cassava commercialization households in rural South-West Nigeria.

Diverse and quality diets are crucial to sustainable growth and development of under-five children, especially those of rural farming households. This study investigated the dietary diversity, environment, and health-related factors of young children. The study employed the use of cross-sectional survey data from 140 under-five children of cassava farming households in Ogun and Oyo states, South-West Nigeria. The study estimated factors influencing dietary diversity of under-five children and assessed children dietary diversity, and the availability of some environment and health-related factors of the farming households. The findings indicated that 98.7% and 97.5% of children consumed grains, with roots and tubers while 36.7% and 36.3% consumed legumes in Ogun and Oyo states respectively. The results also found that 48.6% of children sampled met the minimum cut-off point of 4 food groups with dietary diversity mean score of 3.28. The logit regression analysis indicated that child's age, mothers' age, distance to farm, and food expenditure were among the significant determinants of children dietary diversity. Therefore, this study seeks the collaborative efforts of stakeholders in providing nutrition-sensitive intervention programs for household members, especially mothers and young children in order to promote consumption of diversified diets and enhance healthy living of rural farming households.

Propolis ethanol extract abrogates hyperglycemia, lipotoxicity, and lowered hepatic poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase protein level in male albino rats.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Diabetes is a major cause of death worldwide and currently available allopathic drugs presents adverse side effects, thus, necessitating a continuous screening for natural products. This study therefore investigated the effects of Propolis Ethanol Extract (PEE) on blood sugar, lipid metabolism, and poly-(ADP)-ribose polymerase (PARPs) protein level of diabetic male Wistar rats. METHODOLOGY: Seventy rats weighing between (150-180) g used in this study were randomized into seven (7) groups as follows: group 1 (Normal control given Olive oil), group 2 (Diabetic control given Olive oil), group 3 [Diabetic + PEE (200 mg/kg)], group 4 [Diabetic + (PEE 600 mg/kg)], group 5 [Diabetic + Glibenclamide (10 mg/kg)], group 6 [Normal + PEE (200 mg/kg)], and group 7 [Normal + PEE (600 mg/kg)]. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg in 0.1 M citrate buffer pH 4.5), while the vehicle and PEE were orally administered once daily. Treatment with PEE commenced after the confirmation of diabetes. Five rats from each group were sacrificed after the third and sixth weeks of PEE treatment. RESULTS: Administration of PEE significantly (P < 0.05) lowered the elevated fasting blood sugar, improves body weight, and abated lipotoxicity in the brain, heart, liver and kidney of the treated groups in a dose- and duration-dependent manners. The increased protein level of PARPs and lowered hydroxyl methyl-glutaryl CoA reductase activity were significantly reversed after PEE treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study concludes that PEE might be a suitable and viable regimen against diabetic complications in rats.

A Retrospective Study of the Health Profile of Neonates of Mothers with Anemia in Pregnancy and Pregnancy Induced Hypertension in Lagos, Nigeria.

Our study assessed the health profile of neonates in relation to anemia in pregnancy and pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). This was a retrospective study where a systematic random sampling technique was used to select a total of 1046 case records of pregnant women registered for ante-natal care at Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria, between 2005 and 2009. Socio-demographic characteristics of the mothers, prevalence of anemia and PIH, and neonatal health profile were obtained from the case records and were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Pearson product moment correlation was used to show the relationship (P≤0.05) between maternal complications and neonatal health profile. Majority (68.8%) of the mothers had anemia and 6.7 % had PIH. Majority (97.12%) of the neonates were live births and 2.88% of the neonates were still births, 65.4% of the women with still birth pregnancy outcome had anemia, and 34.6% had PIH. Majority (74%) of the neonates had birth weight within normal range (2.5-4.0 kg) and majority (68%) had normal Apgar score at 5 min of birth (7-10). A positive correlation existed between the packed cell volume of the mother and the birth weight of the neonates (r=0.740, P≤0.05). A negative correlation existed between the incidence of PIH and the birth weight of the neonates (r= 0.781, P≤0.05), head circumference (r=-0.491, P≤0.05) and the length of the neonates(r=-0.480, P≤0.05). We conclude that nutritional and health care intervention programmes for pregnant women should be intensified especially during ante-natal visits to hospitals.