Substituting brown rice for white rice on diabetes risk factors in India: a randomised controlled trial.

India has the second largest number of people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) globally. Epidemiological evidence indicates that consumption of white rice is positively associated with T2D risk, while intake of brown rice is inversely associated. Thus, we explored the effect of substituting brown rice for white rice on T2D risk factors among adults in urban South India. A total of 166 overweight (BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2) adults aged 25-65 years were enrolled in a randomised cross-over trial in Chennai, India. Interventions were a parboiled brown rice or white rice regimen providing two ad libitum meals/d, 6 d/week for 3 months with a 2-week washout period. Primary outcomes were blood glucose, insulin, glycosylated Hb (HbA1c), insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance) and lipids. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was a secondary outcome. We did not observe significant between-group differences for primary outcomes among all participants. However, a significant reduction in HbA1c was observed in the brown rice group among participants with the metabolic syndrome (-0·18 (se 0·08) %) relative to those without the metabolic syndrome (0·05 (se 0·05) %) (P-for-heterogeneity = 0·02). Improvements in HbA1c, total and LDL-cholesterol were observed in the brown rice group among participants with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 compared with those with a BMI < 25 kg/m2 (P-for-heterogeneity < 0·05). We observed a smaller increase in hs-CRP in the brown (0·03 (sd 2·12) mg/l) compared with white rice group (0·63 (sd 2·35) mg/l) (P = 0·04). In conclusion, substituting brown rice for white rice showed a potential benefit on HbA1c among participants with the metabolic syndrome and an elevated BMI. A small benefit on inflammation was also observed.

Antiallodynic and Antihyperalgesic Activities of Fentanyl-Loaded Dermal Clay Dressings in Rat Model of Second-Degree Burn Injury.

Second-degree burn injury is the most common type of burn injury, which usually takes 2-3 weeks for complete healing. However, such patients suffer with intense pain associated with development of hyperalgesia and allodynia. Here, we prepare a silver clay patch using montmorillonite clay, betaine, and silver nitrate. Later, the silver clay patches were loaded with fentanyl. Furthermore, the patches were fabricated into burn wound dressings. The dressings were first subjected to ex vivo skin penetration studies and were later evaluated for thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia using second-degree burn injury rodent model. Our results show that application of fentanyl-loaded dermal clay (FLDC) dressings for 3 h showed significant increase of paw withdrawal latency (p <0.001) against hyperalgesia starting from 30 min after removal of patch to up to 6 h. Similarly, the FLDC dressings also potentiated the paw withdrawal threshold for up to 4 h after application (p <0.001). From these studies, we can conclude that FLDC dressings are ideal topical formulations for better management of pain in second-degree burns.

Finger millet (Ragi, Eleusine coracana L.): a review of its nutritional properties, processing, and plausible health benefits.

Finger millet or ragi is one of the ancient millets in India (2300 BC), and this review focuses on its antiquity, consumption, nutrient composition, processing, and health benefits. Of all the cereals and millets, finger millet has the highest amount of calcium (344mg%) and potassium (408mg%). It has higher dietary fiber, minerals, and sulfur containing amino acids compared to white rice, the current major staple in India. Despite finger millet's rich nutrient profile, recent studies indicate lower consumption of millets in general by urban Indians. Finger millet is processed by milling, malting, fermentation, popping, and decortication. Noodles, vermicilli, pasta, Indian sweet (halwa) mixes, papads, soups, and bakery products from finger millet are also emerging. In vitro and in vivo (animal) studies indicated the blood glucose lowering, cholesterol lowering, antiulcerative, wound healing properties, etc., of finger millet. However, appropriate intervention or randomized clinical trials are lacking on these health effects. Glycemic index (GI) studies on finger millet preparations indicate low to high values, but most of the studies were conducted with outdated methodology. Hence, appropriate GI testing of finger millet preparations and short- and long-term human intervention trials may be helpful to establish evidence-based health benefits.

Nutritional and sensory profile of two Indian rice varieties with different degrees of polishing.

Traditional hand-pounded rice has been replaced today with highly polished white rice in the Asian Indian diets. The study aimed to evaluate the nutritional as well as the sensory differences between the brown (0% polish) and the rice milled to different degrees of polish (2.3, 4.4 and 8.0%). Bapatla and Uma (red pigmented) varieties in both raw and parboiled forms were used. The protein, fat, dietary fibre, γ-oryzanol, polyphenols, vitamin E, total antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging abilities of the brown rice decreased while the available carbohydrates increased with polishing. Sensory attributes of the cooked rice samples (whiteness, grain intactness, fluffiness, firmness, stickiness, chewiness and the cooked rice aroma) were evaluated by trained panelists. Scores for branny taste and chewiness decreased with polishing. On the whole, brown rice of both the varieties was readily accepted by the well-informed sensory trained panelists.

A postgenomic integrated view of prostaglandins in reproduction: implications for other body systems.

Prostaglandins are primary mediators of pain and are involved in pathological conditions such as hypertension, cancer and inflammation but are also needed for normal function of the female reproductive system. This may hold true for other systems because long term use of selective COX-2 inhibitors such as VIOXX and BEXTRA was associated with heart failure, leading to their withdrawal. A thorough study of the contribution of prostaglandins in the regulation of normal body function is clearly needed. A major drawback of the current therapeutic strategies aiming at controlling PGs is that they aim at early steps of biosynthesis thus blocking all PGs, good and bad. However, PGs often work as opposing dyads such as PGI2-TXA2 in the vascular system and PGF2alpha-PGE2 in the female reproductive system. The paradigm thus appears as effecting selective synthesis, transport and action of individual PG isoforms. In this respect, the female reproductive system appears as an ideal study model. Data from human and animal genome projects allowed identifying the corresponding members of the biosynthetic and signal transduction components of the PG system in different animal species. Of particular interest was that PG terminal synthase shared similarities or identity with enzymes previously known for steroid or sugar metabolism and free radical detoxification. We present here an integrated view of PG action based on observations in the female reproductive system, but with potential strategic implications for cardiovascular and metabolic complications.

Inhibition of B(a)P induced strand breaks in presence of curcumin.

Incidence of cancer at different sites may be related to oxidative damage to host genome by genotoxicants. These oxidative actions may be modified by phytochemicals present in foods. The non-nutritive dietary constituents which possess antimutagenic property appear to be promising chemopreventive agents. This study reports the protective effect of curcumin on B(a)P induced DNA damage in human peripheral blood lymphocyte cells. The study group consisted of 10 male smokers, 10 non-smokers and 10 non-smoking females aged between 25 and 45. The DNA damage was assessed using comet assay. In all the groups curcumin showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect. The effect appeared to be sex dependent. There was no correlation between DNA damage and GST-Mu levels and levels of micronutrients namely Vitamins A, E and beta carotene. The results of this study are in line with our earlier observations on turmeric/curcumin as a potential chemopreventer.

Single-crystal mesostructured semiconductors with cubic Ia3d symmetry and ion-exchange properties.

If the full scientific and technological potential of mesostructured materials is to be achieved, systems with continuous domains in the form of single crystals or films must be prepared. Here we report a reliable and facile system for making large single-crystal particles of chalcogenido mesostructured materials with a highly organized cubic structure, accessible pore structure, and semiconducting properties. Building blocks with square planar bonding topology, Pt(2+) and [Sn(2)Se(6)](4)(-), in combination with long-chain pyridinium surfactants (C(n)PyBr, n = 18, 20) favor faceted single-crystal particles with the highest possible space group symmetry Ia3d. This is an important step toward developing large single-domain crystalline mesostructured semiconductors and usable natural self-assembled antidot array systems. The tendency toward cubic symmetry is so strong that the materials assemble readily under experimental conditions that can tolerate considerable variation and form micrometer-sized rhombic dodecahedral cubosome particles. The c-C(n)PyPtSnSe materials are the first to exhibit reversible ion-exchange properties. The surfactant molecules can be ion-exchanged reversibly and without loss of the cubic structure and particle morphology. The cubosomes possess a three-dimensional open Pt-Sn-Se framework with a low-energy band gap of approximately 1.7 eV.

Fetal malnutrition and adult chronic disease.

Since the fetal origins of adult disease hypothesis was put forward, more than 30 studies around the world have indicated low-birth-weight (LBW) infants have a higher incidence of hypertension and impaired glucose tolerance. India ranks second in incidence of LBW among South East Asian countries and is experiencing a transition of disease pattern from communicable disease to non-communicable disease. Whether this could be explained in part by LBW infants who experienced better nutrition at a later age is explored here. An earlier cohort with accurate birth weights was traced and enrolled into the study. A sample of 50 LBW and 78 normal birth weight (NBW) individuals are reported on here. Though the odds ratio (OR) estimates of risk factors for coronary heart disease and diabetes tended to be higher in LBWs who were better nourished at the time of the study, they were not statistically different. Similarly, OR estimates for risk factors tended to be higher in LBWs who put on more weight than the median of NBWs, but they were not significant. Logistic regressions with several variables indicated significant influence of body mass index on systolic (P <0.007) and diastolic (P <0.004) blood pressures. Since the risk associations are weak, more studies are needed to put the hypothesis on a firm footing.

Platinum chalcogenido MCM-41 analogues. High hexagonal order in mesostructured semiconductors based on Pt(2+) and [Ge(4)Q(10)](4-) (Q = S, Se) and [Sn(4)Se(10)](4-) adamantane clusters.

Highly periodic hexagonal honeycombs of platinum-germanium chalcogenide and platinum-tin selenide frameworks were prepared by linking corresponding [Ge(4)Q(10)](4)(-) (Q = S, Se) and [Sn(4)Se(10)](4)(-) clusters with Pt(2+) ions. The non-oxidic honeycombs designated as C(n)PyPtGeQ and C(n)PyPtSnSe were templated by the lyotropic liquid-crystalline phase of alkylpyridinium surfactant [C(n)H(2)(n)(+1)NC(5)H(5)]Br (C(n)PyBr) with n= 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22. Although the materials are amorphous at the microscale, they have crystalline mesoporosity with well-ordered and aligned surfactant-filled cylindrical pores. In addition to high mesoscopic order, the pore-pore separation is adjustable with the surfactant chain length (i.e., value of n). The quality of these materials, as judged by the degree of hexagonal order, rivals or exceeds that reported for the highest quality MCM-41 silicates. The materials have the lowest band gap reported so far for mesostructured chalcogenides solids, in the range 1.5 < E(g)< 2.3 eV. The C(n)PyPtGeS analogues show intense photoluminescence at 77 K when excited with light above the band gap.

Perspectives on nutrition needs for the new millennium for South Asian regions.

South Asia is the most populated region of the world with several nutritional challenges. Though per capita food energy supply, child survival and life expectancy have improved, and even today large segments of the population are below the poverty line with high infant and maternal mortality rates. It is important to recognize the crucial role of nutrition throughout the life cycle-from conception to old age. It is very necessary now to move from food security to nutrition security and improve the quality of foods both in macro- and micronutrients in order to break the transgenerational effects of malnutrition. The key solutions to the problems should address the issue of social development, population stabilization, environmental degradation and inadequate health and nutritional services. Strategies for empowering women and actuating community participation as sustainable programmes for human development, measures to reduce underweight and stunting in children and prevention of micronutrient malnutrition across the population are required. Enhancing food and nutrition security through innovative diversified agriculture and dietary practices, prevention and control of infection, promotion of food safety and fortification of staples with appropriate attention on emerging chronic disorders are essential. Population control measures to stabilize the fertility rates, biotechnological approaches for genetically modified foods, nutrition surveillance based on assessment, analysis and action to address the logistic, technical and compliance issues with emphasis on promotion of breast feeding and complementary foods with adequate attention on the reproductive needs of adolescent girls, pregnant mothers and lactating women would eliminate low birth weight, stunting, and chronic energy deficiency in vulnerable groups. Focused studies on bioavailability of micronutrients and its enhancement, innovative horticulture interventions, fortifications, social marketing strategies would promote the intake of micronutrient and phytonutrient rich foods. In-depth epidemiological research, an insight into foetal origins of adult disease and nutrition-genes interaction and life style alterations will avert the emerging epidemic of chronic diet related disorders. An investment in preventing foetal malnutrition improves nutrition of women in reproductive age, infant and child nutrition and prevents the onset of chronic disease in adult life. Human resource development, IEC measures, technology transfer, operational and logistic research, building of databases, integrated, intersectoral, multidisciplinary plans and sound management information system and surveillance with net working and experience sharing in the region will help to overcome the common challenges and lay the foundation for a better scenario in these regions in the near future.

Importance of folate in human nutrition.

From a public health perspective, some of the new insights into folic acid nutrition are of significance. Folate intake recommendations vary under different conditions. Intake of 350 microg is required to maintain plasma homocysteine levels, 650 microg for those with elevated plasma homocysteine, about 400 microg for women planning to become pregnant and 4000 microg for those with history of neural tube defect affected pregnancy. This raises the question whether the folate intake is adequate for the general population, particularly in the vulnerable groups or whether there is a need for scientists to take a fresh view of the requirements, recommended dietary intakes, and consider intervention measures which will have impact on the folate nutritional status. The recommendations should provide a margin of safety to allow for decreased intake, increased requirements, individual variability and bioavailability of natural food folates. The folate intake and nutriture in relation to India and other developing countries needs careful consideration to reduce anemia, neural tube defects and possibly impact on the high incidence of cardiovascular diseases.

Prospects of fortification of salt with iron and iodine.

Fortification of salt with iron has been developed by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) as a strategy for the control of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in India, similar to iodization of salt for control of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Stability of the iron fortified salt (IFS), its bioavailability and organoleptic evaluation of food items containing the IFS have been demonstrated. Acceptability and effectiveness of the IFS in school children and in multicentric community trials have been demonstrated. With the introduction of universal iodization of salt as a national policy in 1988, NIN has developed a formulation for double fortification (DFS) of salt with iodine and iron. The stability of the nutrients under laboratory conditions along with their bioavailability were found to be good but varying with the quality of salt used. The DFS has been evaluated in controlled trials in tribal communities and in residential school children. The findings of these studies are discussed. Overall, in these trials, DFS effectively controlled iodine deficiency but a clear impact on reducing anaemia was not demonstrated. In residential schoolchildren, increased urinary excretion of iodine as well as reduced anaemia were observed. The quality of salt has been found to be an important determinant of the stability of iodine in DFS. Further evaluation of this potentially important intervention is in progress.

Fibrinogen and homocysteine levels in coronary artery disease.

Conventional risk factors like high serum cholesterol, smoking and hypertension do not explain all the mortality and morbidity due to coronary artery disease in Indian population. Novel factors like plasma fibrinogen and homocysteine have been currently recognised as independent risk factors for coronary artery disease. A case-control study was carried out to examine the role of plasma fibrinogen, homocysteine, lipid profile and anthropometric parameters in angiographically established coronary artery disease patients. The relationship between the biochemical and anthropometric parameters was also examined. Fifty-eight male patients in the age range of 35-60 years with angiographically established coronary artery disease and equal number of matched-controls were the subjects of this study. Cases with coronary artery disease had significantly higher waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-thigh ratio, plasma fibrinogen and total cholesterol. Mean plasma total homocysteine levels were not significantly different between cases and controls. In Indian population, elevated plasma fibrinogen and abdominal obesity appear to be significantly associated with coronary artery disease.

Dietary factors as determinants of hypertension: A case control study in an urban Indian population.

Hypertension, an important risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), is often associated with certain dietary habits which can either adversely affect or decrease blood pressure. Several Western studies have documented the role of diet, especially excess energy, both quality and quantity of fat and salt, in the aetiopathogenesis of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and CHD. Indians are particularly susceptible to these chronic diseases. A study was therefore undertaken to investigate the role of dietary factors in relation to hypertension. A total of 158 newly diagnosed cases were selected from the out-patient department of the 1000-bed Osmania General Hospital along with 172 age and gender-matched controls. A detailed diet history was collected and validated. An energy adjustment method was adopted by transforming the data on a log scale as all the nutrients depended upon the intake of energy. A total of 86 hypertensives and 79 controls participated in the study. Among those classified as hypertensives, men reported higher intakes of dietary fat and salt while women reported higher intakes of dietary protein and salt. Risk calculated by Odds ratio revealed that higher intakes of fat, protein and salt increase the risk for hypertension. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression identified salt as the risk factor in men and protein as the risk factor in women. These results suggest a role for dietary fat, protein and salt in hypertension.

Bioactive phytochemicals with emphasis on dietary practices.

Diet can modify the pathophysiological processes of various metabolic disorders and can be an effective preventive strategy for various disease processes most of which are known to involve oxidative damage. Both nutrient and non-nutrient components of the diet have been recognized for their anti-oxidant and other potential benefits. Plant foods contain phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, etc., which show biological activity. Some common foods used in Indian culinary practices were assessed for their anti-oxidant, anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic effects and vitamin D activity and evaluated for their plausible biological effects. Green leafy vegetables had the highest anti-oxidant activity followed by wheat and rice. Cooking decreased this activity. Eugenol, the active principle of clove, was shown to offer protection against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats. It also showed anti-peroxidative activity in addition to decrease in O2 formation. Studies on the anti-carcinogenic effect of turmeric/curcumin revealed that both are potent anti-mutagens in vivo and reduce the adducted DNA levels in liver of rates challenged with B(a)P. In another study, Syrian hamsters receiving turmeric/curcumin through diet or local paint on cheek pouch had lower tumour burden as well as adducted DNA level against 7-12-DMBA challenge. Turmeric/curcumin were found to be better anti-tumour agents when given in the post initiation phase of carcinogenesis. The beneficial effect of turmeric was found to be due to its anti-oxidant potential. Studies on humans at risk of palatal cancer due to reverse smoking showed that turmeric (1 g/day) for 9 months had a significant impact on the regression of precancerous lesions. Onion and garlic also possess anti-mutagenic principle. Further studies on the bioactive phytochemicals in plants showed that certain plants belonging to Solanaceae (Cestrum diurnum, Lycopersicon esculentum and Solanum melongena) have calcinogenic potential and vitamin D like activity. In view of the vast data on bioactive principles from plants, it is suggested that dietary prevention coupled with other life-style changes in perhaps the right answer for prevention of cancer and other chronic diseases in India.

Impact evaluation of iron & iodine fortified salt.

As a novel approach to tackle the problems of iron deficiency anaemia and iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs), which often coexist, the National Institute of Nutrition has developed iron and iodine fortified common salt (double fortified salt-DFS) as a public health measure. This salt has undergone a battery of laboratory and field tests to evaluate its feasibility for use in a national programme. The DFS is designed to provide 1 mg of iron and 15 micrograms of iodine per gram of common salt. This was made possible by the inclusion of a polyphosphate stabilizer, sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) at 1 per cent level. The stability of iron and iodine was found to be good up to 6 months. However, the stability of iodine depended upon the quality of the salt used for fortification. The biological effects of long-term consumption of DFS were evaluated in experimental rats and in field trials. Both iron and iodine from the salt were found to be biologically available in regenerating haemoglobin and in increasing excretion of iodine in urine. When this salt was tested in tribal villages endemic for goitre and iron deficiency anaemia, the bioresponse was good with regard to the iodine status but was not uniform in all segments with regard to iron, probably due to confounding variables. In a study carried out in residential school children where such variables did not exist, DFS was found to have significant impact on haemoglobin status in anaemic children and improved their urinary iodine excretion. The consumption of DFS for 2 yr did not have any adverse effects in school children as well as in the tribal population. Parameters related to calcium homeostasis were not altered in children receiving DFS. Histopathological examination of tissues and radiological examination of bone did not reveal any abnormality in DFS fed rats. Similarly serum and urinary parameters related to calcium and phosphorus were not altered in DFS fed rats. Therefore, DFS is presented as a feasible and effective strategy to control the double deficiency of iron and iodine in our community.

Glutathione S-transferase Mu (GST Mu) deficiency and DNA adducts in lymphocytes of smokers.

The effect of smoking on DNA adduct formation in lymphocytes was analysed in individuals with low (deficient) and high (non-deficient) glutathione S-transferase (class Mu) activity. DNA adduct levels in lymphocytes were determined by the highly sensitive nuclease P1-enhanced 32P-postlabeling assay. The lymphocyte DNA adducts/10(8) nucleotides of smokers deficient in glutathione S-transferase Mu activity (n = 12) were significantly higher than those of smokers non-deficient (n = 9) in glutathione S-transferase Mu activity. The DNA adduct levels of the lymphocytes inversely correlated with glutathione S-transferase Mu activity. A correlation was found between DNA adduct levels and daily cigarette consumption. Results of the present study suggest that individuals deficient in glutathione S-transferase Mu activity may be at greater risk of DNA damage.