Effect of multiple micronutrient-fortified bouillon on micronutrient status among women and children in the Northern Region of Ghana: Protocol for the Condiment Micronutrient Innovation Trial (CoMIT), a community-based randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent in West Africa, particularly among women of reproductive age (WRA) and young children. Bouillon is a promising food fortification vehicle due to its widespread consumption. This study aims to evaluate the impact of multiple micronutrient-fortified bouillon cubes, compared to control bouillon cubes (fortified with iodine only), on micronutrient status and hemoglobin concentrations among lactating and non-lactating WRA and young children in northern Ghana. METHODS: This randomized, controlled doubly-masked trial will be conducted in the Kumbungu and Tolon districts in the Northern Region of Ghana, where prior data indicate multiple micronutrient deficiencies are common. Participants will be: 1) non-pregnant non-lactating WRA (15-49 y), 2) children 2-5 y, and 3) non-pregnant lactating women 4-18 months postpartum. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to receive household rations of one of two types of bouillon cubes: 1) a multiple micronutrient-fortified bouillon cube containing vitamin A, folic acid, vitamin B12, iron, zinc, and iodine, or 2) a control cube containing iodine only. Each participant's household will receive a ration of bouillon cubes every 2 weeks, and households will be advised to prepare meals as usual, using the study-provided cubes. The trial duration will be 9 months for non-pregnant non-lactating WRA and children, and 3 months for lactating women. The primary outcomes will be changes in biomarkers of micronutrient status and hemoglobin among WRA and children and milk micronutrient concentrations among lactating women. Secondary outcomes will include change in prevalence of micronutrient deficiency and anemia; dietary intake of bouillon and micronutrients; inflammation, malaria, and morbidity symptoms; and child growth and development. DISCUSSION: Evidence from this study will inform discussions about bouillon fortification in Ghana and West Africa. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05178407) and the Pan-African Clinical Trial Registry (PACTR202206868437931). This manuscript reflects protocol version 4 (August 29, 2022).

Impact of Plant Protein Intakes on Nutrient Adequacy in the US.

There is an increasing interest in plant-based diets and higher levels of plant proteins due to rising concerns around health and environmental sustainability issues. We determined the effects of increasing quartiles of plant protein in the diet on nutrient adequacy using a large nationally representative observational dataset. Twenty-four-hour dietary-recall data from NHANES 2013-2018 from 19,493 participants aged 9+ years were used to assess nutrient intakes. Nutritional adequacy was assessed by estimating the percentage of the population with intakes below the EAR or above the AI. A quartile trend was assessed using regression and the significance was set at Pquartile trend < 0.05. With increasing quartiles of plant protein, the adequacy decreased for calcium, potassium, and vitamin D and increased for copper and magnesium for adolescents. Among the adults aged 19-50 years, the adequacy decreased for protein, choline, selenium, vitamin B12, and zinc and increased for copper, folate, iron, magnesium, thiamin, and vitamin C with increasing quartiles of plant protein. The adequacy for calcium, vitamin A, and zinc decreased and it increased for copper, folate, magnesium, thiamin, and vitamin C with increasing quartiles of plant protein among adults aged 51+ years. The results indicate that diets of mixed protein sources (from both animals and plants) are the most nutritionally adequate.

Micronutrient-microbiome interplay: a critical regulator of soil-plant health.

The delicate balance between soil micronutrients and the phytobeneficial microbiome is crucial for maintaining soil-plant health. Recently, Dai et al. established a correlation between elemental micronutrients and the soil microbiome that regulates plant quality and productivity, offering innovative and sustainable solutions to increase agricultural production in a changing climate.

Correlation between Selenium and Zinc Levels and Survival among Prostate Cancer Patients.

The most prevalent type of cancer among males is prostate cancer. Survival is considered quite good, but it can be further improved when risk factors are optimized. One of these factors is micronutrients, including Se and Zn. To our knowledge, the interaction between Se and Zn and prostate cancer remains undescribed. This study aimed to investigate the optimal levels of selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) and their impact on the survival of individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer. A total of 338 prostate cancer patients were enrolled in this study, which was conducted in Poland between 2009 and 2015. Mass spectrometry, which uses inductively coupled plasma mass, was used to assess serum element levels before treatment. The study participants were categorized into quartiles (QI-QIV) based on the distributions of Se and Zn levels observed among surviving participants. Cox regression was used to assess the association between serum Se and Zn levels and the survival of prostate cancer patients. Our results reveal the effect of combined Se and Zn levels on survival in prostate cancer patients (SeQI-ZnQI vs. SeQIV-ZnQIV; HR = 20.9). These results need further research to establish Se/Zn norms for different populations.

Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index is inversely associated with visceral adipose tissue area among U.S. adults: A cross-sectional study.

Obesity is becoming a global health problem. Visceral adiposity is the main cause of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Dietary improvement is the key to controlling obesity. We hypothesized that a higher Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (CDAI) was associated with a lower visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area. In this cross-sectional study, 10,389 adults were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2018. CDAI was calculated based on 6 micronutrients: zinc, selenium, total carotenoids, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. VAT area was determined by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan. Linear regression models were constructed to evaluate the association between CDAI and VAT area. Subgroup analyses were also performed. The mean age of participants was 39.68 years, 5240 were male, and 3841 of those were non-Hispanic White. The inverse associations were observed in all models. In model 3, CDAI was inversely associated with VAT area as a continuous variable, ß (95% confidence interval), -0.56 (-0.85 to -0.27). When compared with the first tertile, the third tertile of CDAI was also inversely associated with VAT area, ß (95% confidence interval), -6.72 (-10.44 to -2.99). No interactions were found in the subgroup analyses. In conclusion, an inverse association between CDAI and VAT area was found among U.S. adults aged 20 to 59 years. These results suggest the possible benefit of an antioxidant diet in relieving visceral obesity. More prospective studies are needed to identify this dietary benefit.

Relationship of dietary intake between children aged 12-59 months and their mothers in rural Kenya: a cross-sectional study in two seasons.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the quantitative association between the dietary intakes of children and their caregivers. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, a non-consecutive 2-day 24-h dietary recall was conducted in two seasons. Participants comprised 142 pairs of 12-59-month-old children and their female caregivers from rural areas of Kenya. Energy and micronutrient adequacy, food group intakes and food allocation were assessed. Differences and correlations between caregiver and child diets were examined, and multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between the children's and caregivers' dietary intakes. RESULTS: The child's diet was significantly lower in energy and higher in micronutrient adequacy than was the caregiver's diet (p < 0.001). Specifically, the child's diet contained more fruits, dairy products, sugar and confectionaries per 4184 kj. Children were allocated relatively more dishes containing nutrient-rich foods than staple foods. The correlation coefficients between the dietary intake of caregivers and children were stronger among 24-59-month-old children. After controlling with covariates, caregiver energy intake was significantly associated with child energy intake (standardised beta [ß] = 0.512, p < 0.001), and caregiver micronutrient adequacy was associated with child micronutrient adequacy (ß = 0.679 and ß = 0.262 after energy adjustment, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The dietary intakes of caregivers and children were closely related. The children had a more nutrient-rich diet compared to that of their caregivers. Differences in food group intakes and food allocation may contribute to the higher nutrient adequacy of children. There is a need to improve the diet of caregivers, which would contribute to improving the diet of children.

Selenium - An environmentally friendly micronutrient in agroecosystem in the modern era: An overview of 50-year findings.

Agricultural productivity is constantly being forced to maintain yield stability to feed the enormously growing world population. However, shrinking arable and nutrient-deprived soil and abiotic and biotic stressor (s) in different magnitudes put additional challenges to achieving global food security. Though well-defined, the concept of macro, micronutrients, and beneficial elements is from a plant nutritional perspective. Among various micronutrients, selenium (Se) is essential in small amounts for the life cycle of organisms, including crops. Selenium has the potential to improve soil health, leading to the improvement of productivity and crop quality. However, Se possesses an immense encouraging phenomenon when supplied within the threshold limit, also having wide variations. The supplementation of Se has exhibited promising outcomes in lessening biotic and abiotic stress in various crops. Besides, bulk form, nano-Se, and biogenic-Se also revealed some merits and limitations. Literature suggests that the possibilities of biogenic-Se in stress alleviation and fortifying foods are encouraging. In this article, apart from adopting a combination of a conventional extensive review of the literature and bibliometric analysis, the authors have assessed the journey of Se in the "soil to spoon" perspective in a diverse agroecosystem to highlight the research gap area. There is no doubt that the time has come to seriously consider the tag of beneficial elements associated with Se, especially in the drastic global climate change era.

Micronutrient status assessment in Saudi patients prior to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a retrospective study

The prevalence of obesity is rapidly increasing world wide, and bariatric surgery has emerged as an effective treatment option, leading to significant sustained weight loss in morbidly obese patients. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has rapidly gained popularity and currently accounts for most bariatric surgeries performed in Saudi Arabia. This procedure can result in harmful postoperative nutritional deficiencies postoperatively. Despite an enormous body of research on the outcomes of bariatric surgery in Saudi Arabia, there is apaucity of published articles on preoperative nutrient deficiencies in this region. This study aimed to investigate demographic trends and characteristics of Saudi patients under going LSG in different regions of the country. We retrospectively analyzed 285 patients who under went LSG between 2016 and 2021 at a tertiary care center. The mean patient age was 46 years, and the mean preoperative BMI was 36.50 kg/m2.Females comprised more than two-thirds of the patients(69%). Among the pre-operative blood parameters, hemoglobin and vitamin B1 deficiency were noticeable in both sexes. This predictive analysis could assist surgeons in identifying common deficiencies and expected post-surgical micronutrient deficiencies relevant to undesirable complications (AU)

The Influence of Early Nutrition on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Preterm Infants.

Premature infants, given their limited reserves, heightened energy requirements, and susceptibility to nutritional deficits, require specialized care. AIM: To examine the complex interplay between nutrition and neurodevelopment in premature infants, underscoring the critical need for tailored nutritional approaches to support optimal brain growth and function. DATA SOURCES: PubMed and MeSH and keywords: preterm, early nutrition, macronutrients, micronutrients, human milk, human milk oligosaccharides, probiotics AND neurodevelopment or neurodevelopment outcomes. Recent articles were selected according to the authors' judgment of their relevance. Specific nutrients, including macro (amino acids, glucose, and lipids) and micronutrients, play an important role in promoting neurodevelopment. Early and aggressive nutrition has shown promise, as has recognizing glucose as the primary energy source for the developing brain. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as DHA, contribute to brain maturation, while the benefits of human milk, human milk oligosaccharides, and probiotics on neurodevelopment via the gut-brain axis are explored. This intricate interplay between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system highlights human milk oligosaccharides' role in early brain maturation. CONCLUSIONS: Individualized nutritional approaches and comprehensive nutrient strategies are paramount to enhancing neurodevelopment in premature infants, underscoring human milk's potential as the gold standard of nutrition for preterm infants.

Molecular characterization of stable QTL and putative candidate genes for grain zinc and iron concentrations in two related wheat populations.

KEY MESSAGE: Major QTL for grain zinc and iron concentrations were identified on the long arm of chromosomes 2D and 6D. Gene-based KASP markers were developed for putative candidate genes TaIPK1-2D and TaNAS10-6D. Micronutrient malnutrition is one of the most common public health problems in the world. Biofortification, the most attractive and sustainable solution to surmount malnutrition requires the development of micronutrient enriched new crop cultivars. In this study, two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations, ZM175/XY60 and ZM175/LX987, were used to identify QTL for grain zinc concentration (GZnC), grain iron concentration (GFeC) and thousand grain weight (TGW). Eight QTL for GZnC, six QTL for GFeC and five QTL for TGW were detected. Three QTL on chromosomes 2DL and 4BS and chromosome 6A showed pleiotropic effects on all three traits. The 4BS and 6A QTL also increased plant height and might be Rht-B1a and Rht25a, respectively. The 2DL locus within a suppressed recombination region was identified in both RIL populations and the favorable allele simultaneously increasing GZnC, GFeC and TGW was contributed by XY60 and LX987. A QTL on chromosome 6DL associated only with GZnC was detected in ZM175/XY60 and was validated in JD8/AK58 RILs using kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) marker K_AX-110119937. Both the 2DL and 6DL QTL were new loci for GZnC. Based on gene annotations, sequence variations and expression profiles, the phytic acid biosynthesis gene TaIPK1-2D and nicotianamine synthase gene TaNAS10-6D were predicted as candidate genes. Their gene-based KASP markers were developed and validated in a cultivar panel of 343 wheat accessions. This study investigated the genetic basis of GZnC and GFeC and provided valuable candidate genes and markers for breeding Zn- and Fe-enriched wheat.

Mental Health Component Scale Is Positively Associated with Riboflavin Intake in People with Central Obesity.

Micronutrient deficiencies are a well-established fact in obesity. However, few studies exist on the relationship between micronutrient intake and mental health. In this study, we investigated the associations between daily intakes of vitamins and minerals and scoring items that measure mental health in people living with central obesity. One hundred males and females with central obesity and metabolic abnormalities were included in the study. Demographic, clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical data were collected. Mental health statuses were assessed with validated questionnaires, and daily micronutrient intakes were assessed with food diaries and Nutritionist ProTM software v7.9. The mental component score (MCS-12) positively correlated with vitamin A (Rho = 0.249, p = 0.038), vitamin C (Rho = 0.293, p = 0.014), riboflavin (Rho = 0.264, p = 0.026), and folate (Rho = 0.238, p = 0.046). Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) correlated with sodium (Rho = 0.269, p = 0.026), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R) correlated with chromium (Rho = 0.313, p = 0.009). In the regression analysis, after potential confounders were adjusted for, only riboflavin was positively associated with the MCS-12 log (beta ± SD = 0.047 ± 0.023, p = 0.044). Our study provides evidence of the link between dietary riboflavin and mental health in people with obesity, and it highlights the importance of monitoring both nutritional status and mental health when managing obesity.

Synthesis and characterization of chitosan-zinc-salicylic acid nanoparticles: A plant biostimulant.

The vastly expanding global population raised the demand for profuse food grain production. For food security in India, high yield and nutritional quality of grain crops, both are essential. Zinc is a crucial micronutrient generally deficient in food grains grown in India, reflecting their deteriorating nutritional quality. To address these issues, in the present study, a novel tri-component nanoparticle of chitosan­zinc-salicylic acid (CS-Zn-SA NPs) has been synthesized by ionotropic gelation method. The average size of synthesized CS-Zn-SA NPs was recorded 13.5 nm by dynamic light scattering (DLS) spectroscopy. The presence of chitosan, zinc and salicylic acid and crosslinking among these components in synthesized nanoparticles has been demonstrated by Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Further, synthesized CS-Zn-SA NPs at various concentrations (50-200 ppm) were evaluated for seed germination via seed priming, yield, grain zinc content and defence enzyme activity through the foliar application. CS-Zn-SA NPs revealed significant seed germination activities, 19.8 % higher grain yield, 45.5 % increased grain zinc content and manyfold defence enzyme activities than the control. The obtained results exposed the potential of CS-Zn-SA NPs as a stimulant for effective seedling development, higher yield, a virtuous micronutrient fortifying agent and defence enzyme promoter.

Human Milk Nutrient Composition Data is Critically Lacking in the United States and Canada: Results from a Systematic Scoping Review of 2017-2022.

Characterization of the nutrients in human milk is important to understand the dietary and developmental requirements of infants. The objective of this review was to summarize the state-of-the-science on the nutrient composition of human milk in the United States and Canada published from 2017 to 2022. Four databases were searched for randomized controlled studies and others given the scoping nature of this review. We limited type to mature milk collected 21 d postpartum and beyond from lactating individuals in the United States and Canada who gave birth at 37-wk gestation or later (full-term). Outcomes of interest included traditional macro- and micronutrients, including human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), and milk volume. The publication date range was selected as January 1, 2017, to the day the literature search was performed. A total of 32 articles were included in the scoping review from primarily longitudinal cohort or cross-sectional designs. The most prevalent sample collection method was full-breast expression (n = 20) with most studies (n = 26) collecting samples from a single timepoint. Carbohydrates (HMOs [n = 12], glucose [n = 8], and lactose [n = 6]) and protein (n = 5) were the most frequently assessed nutrients in this body of work, with consensus among studies that glucose is present in limited concentrations compared to lactose (24-64 mg/dL compared with 6-7 g/dL) and that HMOs are influenced by temporality and secretor status. Included studies displayed an overall level of heterogeneity and sparsity paralleling previous reports and nutrient data in the USDA FoodData Central system. Much of the data extracted from retained articles generally provided analysis of a specific nutrient or group of nutrients. Moreover, many studies did not use the preferred analytical methods as outlined by the Human Milk Composition Initiative to increase measurement confidence. Up-to-date nutrient composition data of human milk is still greatly needed as it is paramount for the management of infant feeding, assessment of infant and maternal nutritional and health needs, and as a reference for infant formula development.

Toxins from harmful algal blooms: How copper and iron render chalkophore a predictor of microcystin production.

Research on harmful algal blooms has focused on macronutrients, yet recent research increasingly indicates that understanding micronutrient roles is also important in the development of effective environmental management interventions. Here, we report results on metallophore production from mesocosms amended with copper and iron (enzymatic co-factors in photosynthetic electron transport) to probe questions of how cyanobacteria navigate the divide between copper nutrition, copper toxicity, and issues with iron bioavailability. These experiments utilized Microcystis, Chlorella and Desmodesmus spp., in mono- and mixed-cultures in lake water from a large, hypereutrophic lake (Taihu, China). To initiate experiments, copper and iron amendments were added to mesocosms containing algae that had been acclimated to achieve a state of copper and iron limitation. Mesocosms were analyzed over time for a range of analytes including algal growth parameters, algal assemblage progression, copper/iron concentrations and biomolecule production of chalkophore, siderophore and total microcystins. Community Trajectory Analysis and other multivariate methods were used for analysis resulting in our findings: 1) Microcystis spp. manage copper/iron requirements though a dynamically phased behavior of chalkophore/siderophore production according to their copper and iron limitation status (chalkophore correlates with Cu concentration, R2 = 0.99, and siderophore correlates with the sum of Cu and Fe concentrations, R2 = 0.98). 2) A strong correlation was observed between the production of chalkophore and the cyanobacterial toxin microcystin (R2 = 0.76)-Chalkophore is a predictor of microcystin production. 3) Based on our results and literature, we posit that Microcystis spp. produces microcystin in response to copper/iron availability to manage photosystem productivity and effect an energy-saving status. Results from this work underscore the importance of micronutrients in influencing harmful algal bloom progression and represents a major advance in understanding the ecological function for the cyanobacterial toxin microcystin as a hallmark of micronutrient limitation stress.

Micronutrient intakes in the Dutch diet: foods, fortified foods and supplements in a cross sectional study.

PURPOSE: This study investigates intakes of risk micronutrients from non-fortified foods, fortified foods and food supplements in different age and gender sub-groups of the Dutch population. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey (DNFCS 2012-2016, N = 4313, 1-79 years). The proportion of the population with Habitual Intakes below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) and above the Upper Level (UL) for calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin D and vitamin E from non-fortified foods, fortified foods and total intake including food supplements was calculated using Statistical Program to Assess Dietary Exposure (SPADE). RESULTS: More than 50% of the population had an intake below the EAR for calcium, iron, vitamin D and folate. Intakes were inadequate for certain sub-groups for the other vitamins and minerals. Adolescents and women were the population sub-groups most likely to have an intake below the EAR. For zinc, vitamin A and folic acid, more than 1% of toddlers exceeded the UL from the total intake. A negligible proportion exceeded the UL for the other vitamins and minerals. CONCLUSION: Inadequate intakes were found for several micronutrients in various population sub-groups despite an apparently well-nourished population. Intakes of zinc, folic acid and vitamin A from food supplements in toddlers and preschoolers should be investigated further to ensure they do not exceed recommended amounts. These results can be used to inform policy makers and to design nutritional interventions to improve micronutrient intakes in the Netherlands.

Comparative assessment of soil fertility across varying elevations.

Land elevation exerts a significant influence on soil fertility through affecting macro and micro climatic conditions and geomorphological processes. To evaluate the soil fertility at different elevation classes, namely 1600-2000, 2000-2400, 2400-2800, and > 2800 m, 350 surface soil samples (0-30 cm) were collected from the agricultural lands of northwestern Iran. Soil properties, including soil texture, calcium carbonate (CaCO3), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), and soil macronutrients (TN, P, and K) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu), were measured. Finally, the interpretation and classification of the soil samples were made using the nutritional value index (NIV). The comparison of the NIV index based on elevation changes showed that the Gomez method classifies the soil properties in an optimal order as evidenced by its tendency towards the center of the data. However, the Common method is more consistent with the observed trend. After classifying the NIV index using the Common method, it was determined that CaCO3 and soil salinity are not the limiting factor for soil fertility in different elevation classes. However, in all elevations, high pH, low OM at elevations > 2800 m, total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorous (AP), and micronutrients deficiencies, except Zn at the elevation of 1600-2000 m, are the main limiting factors for soil fertility of agricultural lands. The results provide further insight into the elevation-based land evaluation and may supports grower's decision on nutrient management and crop selection strategies.

Rapid Prediction of Nutrient Concentration in Citrus Leaves Using Vis-NIR Spectroscopy.

The nutritional diagnosis of crops is carried out through costly foliar ionomic analysis in laboratories. However, spectroscopy is a sensing technique that could replace these destructive analyses for monitoring nutritional status. This work aimed to develop a calibration model to predict the foliar concentrations of macro and micronutrients in citrus plantations based on rapid non-destructive spectral measurements. To this end, 592 'Clementina de Nules' citrus leaves were collected during several months of growth. In these foliar samples, the spectral absorbance (430-1040 nm) was measured using a portable spectrometer, and the foliar ionomics was determined by emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) for macro and micronutrients, and the Kjeldahl method to quantify N. Models based on partial least squares regression (PLS-R) were calibrated to predict the content of macro and micronutrients in the leaves. The determination coefficients obtained in the model test were between 0.31 and 0.69, the highest values being found for P, K, and B (0.60, 0.63, and 0.69, respectively). Furthermore, the important P, K, and B wavelengths were evaluated using the weighted regression coefficients (BW) obtained from the PLS-R model. The results showed that the selected wavelengths were all in the visible region (430-750 nm) related to foliage pigments. The results indicate that this technique is promising for rapid and non-destructive foliar macro and micronutrient prediction.

Spinel nanocomposite (nMnZnFe2O4) synchronously promotes grain yield and Fe-Zn biofortification in non-aromatic rice.

Soils deficient in essential micro-nutrients produce nutritionally starved crops that do not fulfill human nutritional requirements. This is getting serious since progressively increasing nutritional disorders are being diagnosed in residents of third-world countries like Pakistan. During this study, we synthesized a spinel nanocomposite (nMnZnFe2O4) and investigated its effectiveness in improving the micronutrient status and yield traits of rice. The nMnZnFe2O4 exhibited a cubic structure at the most prominent peak (311); a crystallite size of 44 nm, and an average grain size ranging from 7 to 9 µm. Foliar application of this nanocomposite was performed to 45 days old plants at concentrations 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mg L-1, and data from rice plant parts (straw, husk, and grain) was recorded at maturity. Agronomic traits like the number of tillers, straw dry weight, root dry biomass, and grain yield per plant were improved by nMnZnFe2O4 application (+34.4% yield). Whereas some biochemical traits like amino acids, soluble sugars, flavonoids, and phenolics varied significantly in rice plant parts compared to the control. Above all, the maximum Zn and Fe concentrations in rice grain were recorded through foliar application of spinel nanocomposite (40 and 50 mg L-1). Therefore, results indicated that micronutrient supply in the form of a nanocomposite could positively regulate nutritional quality and rice grain yield.

Influence of macronutrients and micronutrients on maize hybrids for biogas production.

Important in the cultivation of corn for biogas production is the selection of appropriate hybrids, macro- and micronutrient dozing and the evaluation of energy and economic efficiency of their use. Therefore, this article presents the results of 3-year field research (2019-2021) on the yield of maize hybrids of different maturity groups grown for silage. The influence of the application of macronutrients and micronutrients on fresh and dry mass yield, chemical composition, methane yield, energy, and economic efficiency was analysed. It was established that depending on the maize hybrid, the application of macro- and micro-fertilizers increased the yield of the fresh mass of maize by 1.4-24.0% compared to options without their use. The evaluation of the theoretical yield of CH4 based on the content of fats, protein, cellulose, and hemicellulose is also presented in different samples of maize. The findings show that the application of macro-and micro-fertilizers is suitable from the energy and economic points of view - profitability begins to appear at the price of biomethane of 0.3-0.4 euros per 1 m3.

Dietary Diversity Predicts the Adequacy of Micronutrient Intake in 6- to 23-Month-Old Children Regardless of the Season in Rural Southern Benin.

BACKGROUND: The Infants and Young Children Dietary Diversity Score (IYC-DDS-7) has been validated to assess dietary quality in children. However, its applicability to predict the adequacy of micronutrient intake remains a challenge in all contexts. DESIGN AND METHODS: A 24-hour dietary recall assessment was conducted on a sample of 628 children aged 6 to 23 months in the plenty season (PS) as well as in the lean season (LS). The IYC-DDS-7 was calculated based on 7 food groups, whereas the mean micronutrient density adequacy (MMDA) for 11 micronutrients. The ß regression models were used to assess the relationship between IYC-DDS and MMDA and differences in nutrient intake between the 2 seasons. A receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was also performed to determine IYC-DDS-7 cutoff levels that maximized sensitivity and specificity in assessing dietary quality and predicting MMDA below- or above-selected cutoff levels. RESULTS: Participating children's MMDA was 56.9% ± 12.8% versus 61.9% ± 8.6% and IYC-DDS-7 was 3.43 ± 1.5 versus 3.77 ± 1.0 in the PS and LS. The IYC-DDS-7 had a positive correlation with MMDA, irrespective of the season. For a 1-unit increase in IYC-DDS-7, MMDA increased by a mean of 10.7% (CI, 8.3%-13.1%; P < .001). The minimum threshold of the 4 food groups corresponded to a sensitivity of 76% and 61% and a specificity of 75% and 70% for the prediction of inadequate diet in the PS and LS, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The IYC-DDS-7 predicted MMDA, regardless of seasons for infants and young children. The IYC-DDS-7 cutoff of 4 groups performed well in classifying children with low-diet quality.