Indispensable Amino Acid Digestibility of Moroccan Fava Bean Using the Dual Isotope Method in Healthy Adults.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of protein quality is necessary to satisfy the nutritional needs of populations across the world. In addition to indispensable amino acid (IAAs) composition, protein digestibility is a major component of IAA bioavailability, playing a crucial role in human health and affecting the linear growth of children. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate IAA digestibility of fava beans, a legume widely consumed in Morocco using the dual-tracer method. METHODS: 2H-intrinsically labeled Fava beans supplemented with 12 mg/kg BW of 13C spirulina were given to 5 healthy volunteers (3 men and 2 women), aged 25.8 ± 3.3 y, with a mean BMI of 20.0 kg/m2. The meal was spread in small portions and was given hourly throughout 7 h. Blood was sampled at baseline and hourly from 5 to 8 h after meal ingestion. IAA digestibility was evaluated by gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry using the 2H/13C ratio in plasma IAA. Digestible indispensable amino acid ratios (DIAAR) were calculated using the scoring pattern for people older than 3 y. RESULTS: Fava beans had an adequate level of lysine but were limiting in several IAAs, especially methionine. Under our experimental conditions, the average IAA digestibility of fava bean was 61.1% ± 5.2%. Valine had the highest digestibility (68.9% ± 4.3%) and threonine had the lowest (43.7% ± 8.2%). In consequence, the lowest DIAAR was 67% for threonine and only 47% for sulfur amino acids (SAA). CONCLUSIONS: The present study is the first to determine the digestibility of fava bean amino acids in humans. The mean IAA digestibility was moderate, and consequently, we conclude that fava bean provides a limited amount of several IAAs, especially SAA, but adequately for lysine. Preparation and cooking methods of fava beans should be improved to increase digestibility. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT04866927.

Vitamin D status and its relationship with obesity indicators in Moroccan adult women.

Background: Although vitamin D deficiency has been studied in various populations, there are few data on its prevalence and associated factors among Moroccan women. Aim: To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and investigate its association with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and serum concentrations of parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphorus in a sample of Moroccan adult women. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at Mohammed V Military Hospital of Instruction, Rabat. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical analyses were performed using standard procedures Results: A total of 714 women aged 18-65 years participated in this study. The overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 74.4%. Approximately 24% and 51% of women had severe and moderate vitamin D deficiency, respectively. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations were inversely correlated with BMI in vitamin D-deficient subjects (P = 0.036) and with parathyroid hormone 1-84 (PTH1-84) levels in the study sample (P = 0.010). PTH1-84 concentrations were greater among overweight/obese individuals compared to their non-overweight peers (P = 0.001) and tended to be higher among vitamin D-deficient women than vitamin D-sufficient women (P = 0.053). Conclusion: This study showed a very high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in this sample of Moroccan women. Lower serum 25(OH)D levels were associated with increased BMI in vitamin D-deficient women and with elevated PTH1-84 levels among the study sample. Although these findings come from a convenience sample of women that attended a nutrition clinic, they underscore the urgent need to develop public health interventions to improve women's vitamin D status.

Association study of leptin receptor polymorphisms in women with obesity and their impact on protein domains: a case-control study and in silico analyses.

Leptin receptor (LEPR) is a member of the class I cytokine receptor family that receives and transmits leptin signals. It is primarily involved in the regulation of energy expenditure and food intake. This study aimed to evaluate the association of LEPR gene polymorphisms, Lys109Arg, Gln223Arg and Lys656Asn, with obesity in Moroccan women and to explore the structural and functional consequences of these SNPs. The variants were genotyped using the Sanger sequencing method. The three-dimensional structures of LEPR extracellular domains were determined using a template-based tertiary structure modeling web server and the protein variants were generated using in silico mutagenesis. The amino acids conservation analysis in the variants region was performed based on a protein's evolutionary profile. The molecular dynamics simulations of the wild-types and variants N-terminal, cytokine receptor homology I and fibronectin type III domains of LEPR protein were performed to investigate their impact on the domain structures. We identified that only Lys656Asn polymorphism is associated with obesity in Moroccan women (P = 0.024). In silico analyses revealed that Lys109, Gln223 and Lys656 are exposed residues and their substitution leads to changes in protein structure through loss or gain of hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. Lys656Asn increases the stability and decreased flexibility of the fibronectin type III domain. Lys109Arg highly decreases the stability and increases flexibility and the overall dimension of N-terminal and cytokine receptor homology I domains. Gln223Arg increases the stability and the compaction level of these domains. These results provide insight into the involvement of LEPR variants in obesity development.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Association between overweight and anemia in Moroccan adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: obesity and anemia remain global public health problems, having major negative effects on human health. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of anemia and investigate its association with overweight/obesity and excess body fat among Moroccan adolescents. Methods: a total of 292 adolescents aged 11-17 years were recruited. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were determined using standardized equipment. Body fat mass was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Hemoglobin concentration was measured by the HemoCue method. Results: the overall prevalence of anemia was 13.7%. Anemia was more common among overweight/obese participants (15.2%) compared to non-overweight participants (12.8%). Overweight/obese boys were more likely to experience anemia than their non-overweight peers (odds ratio (OR): 1.49; 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 0.51-4.41). Similarly, anemia likelihood was higher among individuals having excess body fat than those who do not have excess body fat, particularly among girls (OR: 1.64; 95%CI: 0.69-3.87). Excess body fat was also significantly associated with lower hemoglobin concentration in both the total sample and girls (P=0.014, and P=0.041, respectively). Overall, increased BMI, WC, fat mass, and percent body fat were associated with reduced hemoglobin concentrations. There was a significant negative correlation between hemoglobin concentration and BMI among anemic girls (P=0.023). Conclusion: elevated BMI and body fat level were associated with lower hemoglobin concentrations and anemia. Further studies are needed to delineate the basis of such associations, and if these findings are confirmed, the guidelines for screening for anemia may need to be modified to include overweight/obesity as a risk factor.

Identification of p.Met215Ile mutation of the MC4R gene in a Moroccan woman with obesity.

Screening the MC4R gene showed one rare mutation p.Met215Ile in a Moroccan patient with morbid obesity, which leads to a change in the protein structure. The analysis of MC4R variants may be useful for future therapeutic approaches.

Effect of multiple micronutrient fortified milk consumption on vitamin D status among school-aged children in rural region of Morocco.

Vitamin D deficiency is a health problem in both developed and developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of multi-vitamin fortified milk consumption on vitamin D status among children living in the mountainous region of Morocco. Children aged 7 to 9 years (n = 239; 49% of girls vs 51% of boys) participated in a double-blind longitudinal study, where they were divided in 2 groups: a fortified group that received daily 200 mL of fortified ultra-high-temperature (UHT) milk enriched with 3 µg of vitamin D3 and a nonfortified group that received 200 mL of nonfortified UHT milk with a natural abundance of vitamin D3 (about 1.5 µg). Blood samples were collected 3 times (at baseline, then at the fourth and ninth months). The average weight, height, and z score of body mass index for age of participants were 22.8 ± 2.6 kg, 121.5 ± 5.2 cm, and -0.2 ± 0.6 kg/m2, respectively. At baseline, 47.5% of children had a concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D below 50 nmol/L. At the end of the study the prevalence of vitamin D <50 nmol/L decreased significantly by 37.6% in the fortified group. These results reveal prevalent vitamin D insufficiency (<50 nmol/L) during winter among rural Moroccan school-aged children, which seems to be better improved by consuming the fortified milk instead of the nonfortified one.

Assessment of Sodium and Potassium Intakes in Children Aged 6 to 18 Years by 24 h Urinary Excretion in City of Rabat, Morocco.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) has greatly increased, mainly due to high level of dietary sodium. Thus, reduction of sodium intake in population has been recognized as one of the most cost-effective strategies to reduce NCDs. The aim of this study was to estimate sodium and potassium consumption in a sample of Moroccan children as a baseline study to implement national strategy for salt intake reduction. METHODS: The study was conducted on 131 children aged 6-18 years recruited from Rabat and its region. Sodium excretion and potassium excretion were measured on 24 h urinary collection, and the creatinine excretion was used to validate completeness of urine collections. RESULTS: The average of urinary sodium was 2235.3 ± 823.2 mg/day, and 50% of children consume more than 2 g/d of sodium (equivalent to 5 g/day of salt), recommended by the WHO. However, daily urinary excretion of potassium was 1431 ± 636.5 mg/day, and 75% of children consume less than adequate intake. Sodium consumption increased significantly with age. Of particular interest, 46.7% of children aged 6-8 years and 49.3% of children aged 9-13 years consume more than the corresponding upper limits. CONCLUSIONS: Children have high sodium and low potassium status. There is evidence of the urgent need to implement a strategy for reduction of dietary sodium intake in Morocco.

Development and validation of bioelectrical impedance analysis equations for prediction total body water and fat-free mass using D2O technique in Moroccan children aged between 8 and 11 years old.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Estimating body composition using bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) requires specific prediction equations. The purpose of our study was to examine the validity of published BIA equations for assessing total body water (TBW) and fat-free mass (FFM) using deuterium oxide dilution (D2O) as a reference method and to develop new FFM and TBW BIA equations if needed for Moroccan pre-pubertal children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data were collected from 247 schoolchildren aged 8-11 years old. Children were sorted by gender and age group and assigned in development and validation groups. D2O dilution was used as reference method for estimating TBW and FFM. Bland and Altman test, effect size, pure error, and proportional bias were used to assess the reliability of previous published equations. Cross-validation was performed by Bland and Altman test and BIA new equations were developed by linear regression. RESULTS: Previously published equations were tested and showed significant bias values indicating that if used they would provide biased values of TBW and FFM. The new prediction equations developed were: [Formula: see text] (l) = 0.269 + 0.292 Ht2/R (cm2/Ω) + 0.221 weight (kg) + 0.824 sex (boys = 1, girls = 0) + 0.291 age (years) (R2 = 0.91, RMSE = 1.54 kg); [Formula: see text] (kg) = -0.450 + 0.380 Ht2/R (cm2/Ω) + 0.291 weight (kg) + 1.294 sex (boys = 1, girls = 0) + 0.446 age (years) (R2 = 0.91, RMSE = 1.97 kg). These equations provide better values of proportional bias, agreement, and pure error than the other tested equations. CONCLUSIONS: The new BIA prediction equations seem to be the most accurate for Moroccan pre-pubertal children.

Physical activity and dietary habits among Moroccan adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to detail the lifestyle (physical activity and dietary habits) of Moroccan adolescents. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study undertaken in the framework of the ATLS (Arab Teens Lifestyle Study). SETTING: Physical activity and dietary habits were determined using a validated questionnaire in public secondary schools. SUBJECTS: A total of 669 adolescents aged 15.0-19.9 years were randomly recruited from Kenitra, Morocco. RESULTS: Physical activity patterns and intensity differed between genders. As anticipated, male adolescents were more active than female adolescents across a typical week and engaged in more vigorous-intensity physical activity than female adolescents, who spent more time than male adolescents in moderate-intensity physical activity. Of particular concern was that one in five of the adolescents surveyed was inactive, with almost 45% of the sample reporting television viewing for more than 2 h/d and 38% engaged in computer use for a similar period. From a dietary perspective, most adolescents reported that they do not take breakfast or consume milk and dairy products, fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. In contrast, most reported consumption of doughnuts, cakes, candy and chocolate more than three times per week and approximately 50% consumed sugary drinks more than three times per week. CONCLUSIONS: Based on a continuation of the self-reported lifestyle behaviours, adolescents in the present study are at risk of developing chronic diseases. Education programmes are urgently needed to assist in the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and reduce the likelihood of overweight and obesity and related health risks among young people.