Supplementation of red palm olein-enriched biscuits improves levels of provitamin A carotenes, iron, and erythropoiesis in vitamin A-deficient primary schoolchildren: a double-blinded randomised controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) remains a significant contributor to childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries; therefore, the implementation of sustainable and cost-effective approaches to control VAD is of utmost pertinence. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of red palm olein (RPO)-enriched biscuit supplementation in improving vitamin A, haematological, iron, and inflammatory status among vitamin A-deficient schoolchildren. METHODS: We conducted a double-blinded, randomised controlled trial involving 651 rural primary schoolchildren (8-12 years) with VAD in Malaysia. The schoolchildren were randomised to receive either RPO-enriched biscuits (experimental group, n = 334) or palm olein-enriched biscuits (control group, n = 317) for 6-month duration. RESULTS: Significant improvements in retinol and retinol-binding protein 4 levels were observed in both groups after supplementation (P < 0.001). The improvement in retinol levels were similar across groups among subjects with confirmed VAD (P = 0.40). Among those with marginal VAD, greater improvement in retinol levels was recorded in the control group (P < 0.001) but lacked clinical significance. The levels of α- and ß-carotenes, haematological parameters (haemoglobin, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin) and iron enhanced more significantly in the experimental group (P < 0.05). The significant reduction in the prevalence of microcytic anaemia (- 21.8%) and high inflammation (- 8.1%) was only observed in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: The supplementation of RPO-enriched biscuits enhanced levels of provitamin A carotenes, iron, and erythropoiesis, and exhibited anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, the incorporation of RPO into National Nutritional Intervention Programs may be a potential measure to improve the health status of vitamin A-deficient children, among various other interventions. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03256123).

The effects of preformed vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoid supplementation on tadpoles of the poison frog Phyllobates vittatus.

Understanding the nutritional requirements of captive animals is necessary for proper animal husbandry, however, the specific dietary requirements for many amphibian species commonly kept in captivity are unknown. Like most vertebrates, frogs cannot synthesize carotenoids and must therefore obtain these essential nutrients through diet. It is unclear if amphibians can cleave provitamin A carotenoids to form vitamin A metabolically within the body, so common practice is to supplement their captive diets with both preformed vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids. We carried out a feeding experiment in tadpoles of Phyllobates vittatus, a commonly kept poison frog species, to test the effects of supplementing a fish flake diet with a provitamin A carotenoid (2.5 mg/g ß-carotene) and vitamin A (0.033-0.066 µg/mL retinyl acetate), both individually and in combination. Contrary to our expectations, supplementation had either no effect or adverse effects on tadpole growth and survivorship. Tadpoles reared under supplemented diets with vitamin A showed higher mortality rates, coupled with symptoms of hypervitaminosis A. Survivors had a smaller body size and mass at metamorphosis. ß-carotene supplementation alone had no detectable effect. The vitamin A and ß-carotene levels in our supplemented diet have been shown to be harmless or benefit tadpoles of other species, yet our results indicate that adding these amounts to what is found in a generalist fish flake mix can have detrimental effects on P. vittatus tadpoles. More broadly, this study highlights the importance of creating husbandry guidelines based on the specific physiological needs of the species (or species groups) being kept in captivity, rather than general ones for all amphibians, as is often done.

A systematic review of the impacts of post-harvest handling on provitamin A, iron and zinc retention in seven biofortified crops.

Post-harvest handling can affect micronutrient retention in biofortified crops through to the point of consumption. Here we conduct a systematic review identifying 67 articles examining the retention of micronutrients in conventionally bred biofortified maize, orange sweet potato, cassava, pearl millet, rice, beans and wheat. Provitamin A crops maintain high amounts compared with non-biofortified counterparts. Iron and zinc crops have more variability in micronutrient retention dependent on processing method; for maximum iron and zinc content, whole grain product consumption such as whole wheat flour or only slightly milled brown rice is beneficial. We offer preliminary suggestions for households, regulatory bodies and programme implementers to increase consumer awareness on best practices for preparing crops to maximize micronutrient content, while highlighting gaps in the literature. Our online, interactive Micronutrient Retention Dashboard ( https://www.cpnh.cornell.edu/mn-retention-db ) offers an at-a-glance view of the compiled minimum and maximum retention found, organized by processing method.

Use of Theoretical Subjects to Develop a Method for Assessing Equivalence of Dietary Vitamin A in a Mixed Diet.

BACKGROUND: Although the vitamin A (VA) equivalency of provitamin A carotenoids from single foods or capsules has been studied using several approaches, there is currently no reliable method to determine VA equivalency for mixed diets. OBJECTIVES: To reach the objective of identifying a method to determine the VA equivalency of provitamin A carotenoids in mixed diets, we tested a new approach using preformed VA as proxy for provitamin A. METHODS: We studied 6 theoretical subjects who were assigned physiologically plausible values for dietary VA intake, retinol kinetic parameters, plasma retinol pool size, and VA total body stores. Using features in the Simulation, Analysis and Modeling software, we specified that subjects ingested a tracer dose of stable isotope-labeled VA on day 0 followed by 0-µg supplemental VA or 200, 400, 800, 1200, 1600, and 2000 µg VA daily from day 14 to day 28; we assigned VA absorption to be 75%. For each supplement level, we simulated plasma retinol specific activity (SAp) over time and calculated the mean decrease in SAp relative to 0 µg. Group mean data were fitted to a regression equation to calculate predicted VA equivalency at each supplement level on day 28. RESULTS: For each subject, higher VA supplement loads resulted in lower SAp, with the magnitude of the decrease differing among subjects. The mean predicted amount of absorbed VA was within 25% of individual subjects' assigned amount for 4 of the 6 subjects, and the mean ratio of predicted to assigned amount of absorbed VA over all supplement loads ranged from 0.60 to 1.50, with an overall mean ratio of 1.0. CONCLUSIONS: Results for preformed VA suggest that this protocol may be useful for determining VA equivalency of provitamin A carotenoids in free-living subjects if mixed diets with known provitamin A content were substituted for the VA supplements.

Bioaccumulated provitamin A in black soldier fly larvae is bioavailable and capable of improving vitamin A status of gerbils.

The aim was to study whether provitamin A (proVA), which can bioaccumulate in black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), is bioavailable and can restore VA status in mammals. A model for studying the metabolism of this vitamin, the gerbil, was either fed a standard diet (C+ group), a diet without VA (C-), a diet in which VA was provided by ß-carotene (ß-C) from sweet potatoes (SP), or a diet in which VA was provided by ß-C from BSFL that had been fed sweet potatoes (BSFL). The animals were killed at the end of the supplementation period and ß-C, retinol and retinyl esters were measured in plasma and liver. As expected ß-C was not detected in plasma and liver of the C+ and C- groups. ß-C concentrations were lower (p < 0.05) in plasma and liver of the BSFL group as compared to the SP group. Liver retinol and retinyl ester concentrations were lower in the C- group than in all the other groups (p < 0.05). These concentrations were not significantly different in the C+ and SP groups while they were lower in the BSFL group (p < 0.05 for retinyl oleate and retinyl linoleate). In total, the liver stock of retinol equivalent was almost twice lower in the BSFL group than in the SP group. Thus, ß-C present in the BSFL matrix is bioavailable and capable of improving VA status, but this matrix decreases its effectiveness by a factor of around two compared to the sweet potato matrix.

Biofortified tomatoes provide a new route to vitamin D sufficiency.

Poor vitamin D status is a global health problem; insufficiency underpins higher risk of cancer, neurocognitive decline and all-cause mortality. Most foods contain little vitamin D and plants are very poor sources. We have engineered the accumulation of provitamin D3 in tomato by genome editing, modifying a duplicated section of phytosterol biosynthesis in Solanaceous plants, to provide a biofortified food with the added possibility of supplement production from waste material.

Genetic dissection in mice reveals a dynamic crosstalk between the delivery pathways of vitamin A.

Vitamin A is distributed within the body to support chromophore synthesis in the eyes and retinoid signaling in most other tissues. Two pathways exist for the delivery of vitamin A: the extrinsic pathway transports dietary vitamin A in lipoproteins from intestinal enterocytes to tissues, while the intrinsic pathway distributes vitamin A from hepatic stores bound to serum retinol binding protein (RBP). Previously, the intestine-specific homeodomain transcription factor (ISX) and the RBP receptor STRA6 were identified as gatekeepers of these pathways; however, it is not clear how mutations in the corresponding genes affect retinoid homeostasis. Here, we used a genetic dissection approach in mice to examine the contributions of these proteins in select tissues. We observed that ISX deficiency increased utilization of both preformed and provitamin A. We found that increased storage of retinoids in peripheral tissues of ISX-deficient mice was dependent on STRA6 and induced by retinoid signaling. In addition, double-mutant mice exhibited a partial rescue of the Stra6 mutant ocular phenotype. This rescue came at the expense of a massive accumulation of vitamin A in other tissues, demonstrating that vitamin A is randomly distributed when present in excessive amounts. Remarkably, provitamin A supplementation of mutant mice induced the expression of the RBP receptor 2 in the liver and was accompanied by increased hepatic retinyl ester stores. Taken together, these findings indicate dynamic crosstalk between the delivery pathways for this essential nutrient and suggest that hepatic reuptake of vitamin A takes place when excessive amounts circulate in the blood.

Potential of pumpkin to combat vitamin A deficiency during complementary feeding in low and middle income countries: variety, provitamin A carotenoid content and retention, and dietary reference intakes.

The risk of child vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in low and middle income countries (LMICs) begins during the age range of complementary feeding (6-24 months), when children are fed complementary foods (CFs) deficient in vitamin A. However, pumpkin, a source of provitamin A carotenoids (PVACs) is widely cultivated in LMICs, but underutilized as a complementary food. Moreover, when consumed by humans, PVACs are bioconverted to retinol, the active form of vitamin A used by the body. This study evaluated the potential of pumpkin toward combating VAD by reviewing varieties of pumpkin cultivated in LMICs and their provitamin A carotenoid (PVAC) content; retention of PVACs in pumpkin during processing it as a CF; and the extent to which a CF prepared from pumpkin may meet the dietary reference intakes (DRIs) for vitamin A for children aged 6-24 months old. Pumpkin may combat VAD because the varieties cultivated have high ß-carotene content, it is a provitamin A biofortifiable food crop, and 100% retention of PVACs was observed when processed using home cooking methods. Feeding less than 50 g of cooked pumpkin per day meets 100% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) and adequate intake (AI) of vitamin A for children 6 to 24 months old. Consumption of pumpkin may be used to complement vitamin A supplementation, fortification, and diversification of CFs with animal source foods. For better yield of pumpkin in LMICs, nutrition sensitive agricultural programmes such as biofortification and agronomic management of pumpkin need to be promoted and supported.

Effects of Heat-Killed Levilactobacillus brevis KB290 in Combination with ß-Carotene on Influenza Virus Infection in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Influenza, a seasonal acute respiratory disease caused primarily by the influenza virus A or B, manifests with severe symptoms leading to considerable morbidity and mortality and is a major concern worldwide. Therefore, effective preventive measures against it are required. The aim of this trial was to evaluate the preventive effects of heat-killed Levilactobacillus brevis KB290 (KB290) in combination with ß-carotene (ßC) on influenza virus infections in healthy Japanese subjects aged between 20 and 59 y throughout the winter season. We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial from 16 December 2019 to 8 March 2020, comparing KB290 + ßC beverage with placebo beverage. The primary endpoint was the incidence of influenza based on a doctor's certificate. The incidence of influenza was not significantly different between the two groups. However, the subgroup analysis showed a significant difference between the two groups (influenza incidence: the KB290 + ßC group 1.9%, and the placebo group 3.9%) in the subgroup of subjects aged ˂40 y, but not in the subgroup of subjects aged ≥40 y. The results of this trial suggest that the combination of KB290 and ßC might be a possible candidate supplement for protection against the seasonal influenza virus infection in humans aged <40 y, although further clinical studies are needed to confirm the concrete preventive effect of this combination on influenza.

Enrichment of provitamin A content in durum wheat grain by suppressing ß-carotene hydroxylase 1 genes with a TILLING approach.

KEY MESSAGE: The suppression of the HYD-1 gene by a TILLING approach increases the amount of ß-carotene in durum wheat kernel. Vitamin A deficiency is a major public health problem that affects numerous countries in the world. As humans are not able to synthesize vitamin A, it must be daily assimilated along with other micro- and macronutrients through the diet. Durum wheat is an important crop for Mediterranean countries and provides a discrete amount of nutrients, such as carbohydrates and proteins, but it is deficient in some essential micronutrients, including provitamin A. In the present work, a targeting induced local lesions in genomes strategy has been undertaken to obtain durum wheat genotypes biofortified in provitamin A. In detail, we focused on the suppression of the ß-carotene hydroxylase 1 (HYD1) genes, encoding enzymes involved in the redirection of ß-carotene toward the synthesis of the downstream xanthophylls (neoxanthin, violaxanthin and zeaxanthin). Expression analysis of genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis revealed a reduction of the abundance of HYD1 transcripts greater than 50% in mutant grain compared to the control. The biochemical profiling of carotenoid in the wheat mutant genotypes highlighted a significant increase of more than 70% of ß-carotene compared to the wild-type sibling lines, with no change in lutein, α-carotene and zeaxanthin content. This study sheds new light on the molecular mechanism governing carotenoid biosynthesis in durum wheat and provides new genotypes that represent a good genetic resource for future breeding programs focused on the provitamin A biofortification through non-transgenic approaches.

Vitamin A5/X, a New Food to Lipid Hormone Concept for a Nutritional Ligand to Control RXR-Mediated Signaling.

Vitamin A is a family of derivatives synthesized from carotenoids acquired from the diet and can be converted in animals to bioactive forms essential for life. Vitamin A1 (all-trans-retinol/ATROL) and provitamin A1 (all-trans-ß,ß-carotene/ATBC) are precursors of all-trans-retinoic acid acting as a ligand for the retinoic acid receptors. The contribution of ATROL and ATBC to formation of 9-cis-13,14-dihydroretinoic acid (9CDHRA), the only endogenous retinoid acting as retinoid X receptor (RXR) ligand, remains unknown. To address this point novel and already known retinoids and carotenoids were stereoselectively synthesized and administered in vitro to oligodendrocyte cell culture and supplemented in vivo (orally) to mice with a following high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS)/UV-Vis based metabolic profiling. In this study, we show that ATROL and ATBC are at best only weak and non-selective precursors of 9CDHRA. Instead, we identify 9-cis-13,14-dihydroretinol (9CDHROL) and 9-cis-13,14-dihydro-ß,ß-carotene (9CDHBC) as novel direct nutritional precursors of 9CDHRA, which are present endogenously in humans and the human food chain matrix. Furthermore, 9CDHROL displayed RXR-dependent promnemonic activity in working memory test similar to that reported for 9CDHRA. We also propose that the endogenous carotenoid 9-cis-ß,ß-carotene (9CBC) can act as weak, indirect precursor of 9CDHRA via hydrogenation to 9CDHBC and further metabolism to 9CDHROL and/or 9CDHRA. In summary, since classical vitamin A1 is not an efficient 9CDHRA precursor, we conclude that this group of molecules constitutes a new class of vitamin or a new independent member of the vitamin A family, named "Vitamin A5/X".

Multinutrient Biofortification of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Africa: Current Status, Opportunities and Limitations.

Macro and micronutrient deficiencies pose serious health challenges globally, with the largest impact in developing regions such as subSaharan Africa (SSA), Latin America and South Asia. Maize is a good source of calories but contains low concentrations of essential nutrients. Major limiting nutrients in maize-based diets are essential amino acids such as lysine and tryptophan, and micronutrients such as vitamin A, zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe). Responding to these challenges, separate maize biofortification programs have been designed worldwide, resulting in several cultivars with high levels of provitamin A, lysine, tryptophan, Zn and Fe being commercialized. This strategy of developing single-nutrient biofortified cultivars does not address the nutrient deficiency challenges in SSA in an integrated manner. Hence, development of maize with multinutritional attributes can be a sustainable and cost-effective strategy for addressing the problem of nutrient deficiencies in SSA. This review provides a synopsis of the health challenges associated with Zn, provitamin A and tryptophan deficiencies and link these to vulnerable societies; a synthesis of past and present intervention measures for addressing nutrient deficiencies in SSA; and a discussion on the possibility of developing maize with multinutritional quality attributes, but also with adaptation to stress conditions in SSA.

Gut microbiota regulation and anti-inflammatory effect of ß-carotene in dextran sulfate sodium-stimulated ulcerative colitis in rats.

ß-Carotene displays antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and prevents the development of cancer. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a kind of inflammatory bowel disease that is accompanied by a certain risk of colon cancer. However, the role of ß-carotene in the modulation of gut microbiota and UC improvement is unclear. In this research, the properties of ß-carotene on anti-inflammatory and the composition of gut microbiota were evaluated in a rat model of UC induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The results revealed that ß-carotene significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the severity of colitis in rats, as assessed using body weight (6.00 ± 1.73%), colon length (22.23 ± 0.53%), and disease activity index, and improved the structure of the colon damaged. Moreover, colonic levels of proinflammatory cytokines were significantly lower following ß-carotene supplementation. ß-Carotene intervention also lowered the expression levels of phosphorylated p65 (0.60 ± 0.02), p38 (0.57 ± 0.00), Erk (0.63 ± 0.04), and JNK (0.70 ± 0.00). The result of the relative abundance of gut microbiota showed that DSS administration significantly changed the microbial structure at the phylum and genus levels of rats. Furthermore, ß-carotene treatment significantly increased the abundance of Faecalibacterium, the levels of which negatively correlated with the levels of inflammatory cytokines. Faecalibacterium may be a potential target in the alleviation of DSS-induced UC. ß-Carotene can alleviate DSS-induced UC through the regulation of gut microbiota. This study provides a reference for the rational use of ß-carotene in the treatment of UC. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: ß-Carotene can relieve ulcerative colitis and regulate the gut microbiota; the nutritional intervention of ß-carotene enhancing animal health.

The contribution of provitamin A biofortified cassava to vitamin A intake in Nigerian pre-schoolchildren.

Biofortified yellow cassava has been developed to alleviate vitamin A deficiency. We examined the potential contribution of yellow cassava to total retinol activity equivalent (RAE) intake if replacing white by yellow cassava among pre-school Nigerian children. Dietary intake was assessed as part of a randomised controlled trial. Pre-schoolchildren (n 176) were randomly assigned to receive either white cassava (WC) or yellow cassava (YC) for 17 weeks. Dietary intake assessments were conducted during the intervention and 1 month after, when children had resumed their habitual diet. Differences in RAE intake between groups and time points were compared using a linear mixed model regression analysis. During intervention, median RAE intake was 536 µg/d in the YC group and 301 µg/d in the WC group (P < 0·0001). YC contributed approximately 40 % to total RAE intake. Of the children, 9 % in the YC group and 29 % in the WC group had RAE intake below the Estimated Average Requirement. After intervention, median RAE intake was 300 µg/d and did not differ between intervention groups (P = 0·5). The interaction effect of group and time showed a 37 % decrease in RAE intake in the YC group after the intervention (Exp(ß) = 0·63; 95 % CI 0·56, 0·72). If WC was replaced by YC after intervention, the potential contribution of YC to total RAE intake was estimated to be approximately 32 %. YC increased total RAE intake and showed a substantially lower inadequacy of intake. It is therefore recommended as a good source of provitamin A in cassava-consuming regions.

Integration of Nitrogen and Biofertilizer on the Agronomic Efficiency and Quality of Shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) Plant in the Rainy Season.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In the rainy season farmers don't interest to cultivate shallot because in addition to providing a high dosage of fertilizer they are also sensitive to pathogenic attacks so they are afraid of crop failure and cause low shallot production. This study aimed to knew effect of agronomic component and quality of shallot under different concentrations of biofertilizer and Ammonium Sulphate (AS) fertilizer dose in the rainy season. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in Cangkring, Srandakan, Bantul, Special Region of Yogyakarta Indonesia from August to October 2019. The study was arranged in RCBD factorial with three replications. The first factor was a various dose of ammonium sulphate (100, 200 and 300 kg ha-1). The second factor was various concentrations of biofertilizer (2, 3 and 4%), and control. The observed variables were the analysis of growth yield and quality component of shallot plant. The analyzed using analysis of variance at 5% of significance then continued by DMRT at 5% of significance. RESULTS: There was the interaction between the application of AS dosage and biofertilizer concentration on all of variable observations. There was a significant difference between treatment with control on all of the observation variables. CONCLUSION: The combination of AS fertilizer 200 kg ha-1 dose and 3% biofertilizer concentration increased agronomic efficiency, growth, bulbs yields, and quality of bulbs include provitamin A, oleoresin compounds.

What is food-to-food fortification? A working definition and framework for evaluation of efficiency and implementation of best practices.

Food-to-food fortification (FtFF) is an emerging food-based strategy that can complement current strategies in the ongoing fight against micronutrient deficiencies, but it has not been defined or characterized. This review has proposed a working definition of FtFF. Comparison with other main food-based strategies clearly differentiates FtFF as an emerging strategy with the potential to address multiple micronutrient deficiencies simultaneously, with little dietary change required by consumers. A review of literature revealed that despite the limited number of studies (in vitro and in vivo), the diversity of food-based fortificants investigated and some contradictory data, there are promising fortificants, which have the potential to improve the amount of bioavailable iron, zinc, and provitamin A from starchy staple foods. These fortificants are typically fruits and vegetables, with high mineral as well as ascorbic acid and ß-carotene contents. However, as the observed improvements in micronutrient bioavailability and status are relatively small, measuring the positive outcomes is more likely to be impactful only if the FtFF products are consumed as regular staples. Considering best practices in implementation of FtFF, raw material authentication and ingredient documentation are critical, especially as the contents of target micronutrients and bioavailability modulators as well as the microbiological quality of the plant-based fortificants can vary substantially. Also, as there are only few developed supply chains for plant-based fortificants, procurement of consistent materials may be problematic. This, however, provides the opportunity for value chain development, which can contribute towards the economic growth of communities, or hybrid approaches that leverage traditional premixes to standardize product micronutrient content.

Multiplying the efficiency and impact of biofortification through metabolic engineering.

Ending all forms of hunger by 2030, as set forward in the UN-Sustainable Development Goal 2 (UN-SDG2), is a daunting but essential task, given the limited timeline ahead and the negative global health and socio-economic impact of hunger. Malnutrition or hidden hunger due to micronutrient deficiencies affects about one third of the world population and severely jeopardizes economic development. Staple crop biofortification through gene stacking, using a rational combination of conventional breeding and metabolic engineering strategies, should enable a leap forward within the coming decade. A number of specific actions and policy interventions are proposed to reach this goal.

Child acceptability of a novel provitamin A carotenoid, iron and zinc-rich complementary food blend prepared from pumpkin and common bean in Uganda: a randomised control trial.

BACKGROUND: Ugandan children are fed homemade complementary foods (CFs) which are usually deficient in vitamin A, iron and zinc. Novel homemade CFs rich in vitamin A, iron and zinc need to be developed, and assessed for their acceptability among target children. OBJECTIVE: Homemade provitamin A carotenoids (PVACs), iron and zinc-rich complementary food (CF), common bean pumpkin blend (BPB) formulated from pumpkin (Sweet cream) and common bean (Obwelu) and PVAC-rich pumpkin blend (PB) from Sweet cream were prepared by expert peer mothers. This study compared child acceptability of BPB and PB (control). METHODS: The crossover acceptability study randomly assigned Ugandan children 6 to 24 months old to either receive 100 g of BPB (n = 35) or 100 g of PB (n = 35) on day one. After a washout period of one day, children crossed over to receive either BPB (n = 35) or PB (n = 35). The amount of CF consumed, duration of consumption, and micronutrient intake were assessed. The CF was acceptable if children consumed ≥50 g (50%) of served food (100 g). A paired t-test was used to determine the mean differences within participants between BPB and PB. The level of statistical significant difference was set at a probability value of 5% (p = 0.05). RESULTS: The mean consumption of BPB and PB was 53.9 g and 54.4 g, respectively. The mean duration for consumption of BPB and PB was 20.6 and 20.3 min, respectively. There was no significant difference in the amounts consumed, and duration of consumption in BPB and PB (p > 0.05). The mean intake of vitamin A was significantly higher (p < 0.00001) in PB (152.5 µgRAE) compared to BPB (100.9 µgRAE). The mean iron intake was significantly higher in BPB (1.1 mg) (p < 0.00001) compared to PB (0.3 mg). Furthermore, zinc intake was significantly higher (p < 0.00001) in BPB (0.58 mg) compared to PB (0.13 mg). CONCLUSION: A homemade complementary food, BPB, made from locally available common bean and pumpkin is rich in PVACs, iron and zinc and is acceptable to children in the age range of complementary feeding in Uganda. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Pan African Clinical Trials Registry www.pactr.org as PACTR202002576768667 . Retrospectively registered. Date of registration: 29/January/2020.

SNP rs6564851 in the BCO1 Gene Is Associated with Varying Provitamin a Plasma Concentrations but Not with Retinol Concentrations among Adolescents from Rural Ghana.

In sub-Saharan Africa, vitamin A deficiency constitutes a severe health problem despite various supplementation and food fortification programs. Given that the intake of preformed vitamin A from animal products remains low in these countries, an efficient metabolization of plant-based provitamin A carotenoids is essential. Previously, adolescents in rural Ghana have shown high total plasma carotenoid concentrations, while 36% had a vitamin A deficiency (defined as plasma retinol < 0.7 µmol/L). Hence, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify the relationships between variants in the ß-carotene 15,15'-oxygenase (BCO1) gene and plasma carotenoid concentrations among 189 15-year-old girls and boys in rural Ghana. BCO1 rs6564851, rs7500996, rs10048138 and PKD1L2 rs6420424, and rs8044334 were typed, and carotenoid concentrations were compared among the different genotypes. G allele carriers of rs6564851 (53%) showed higher plasma carotenoid concentrations than T allele carriers (median (interquartile range): 3.07 (2.17-4.02) vs. 2.59 (2.21-3.50) µmol/L, p-value = 0.0424). This was not explained by differences in socio-demographic or dietary factors. In contrast, no differences in plasma retinol concentrations were observed between these genotypes. Pending verification in independent populations, the low conversion efficiency of provitamin A carotenoids among rs6564851 G allele carriers may undermine existing fortification and supplementation programs to improve the vitamin A status in sub-Saharan Africa.