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Potential Properties of Guabiroba (Campomanesia xanthocarpa O. Berg) Processing: A Native Brazilian Fruit
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Guabiroba (Campomanesia xanthocarpa O. Berg) is a native Brazilian fruit with an important nutritional value and a great economic potential for processing. This fruit is a source of fibers, carbohydrates, potassium, and bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, and Vitamin C. The phytochemicals of guabiroba are elucidated regarding their high antioxidant activity, which is related to human health benefits when introduced into a dietary routine. In addition, the antioxidant property of this native fruit can act as a natural preservative against oxidative and enzymatic reactions, and microbiological spoilage, extending the shelf-life of food. Thus, the addition of guabiroba in the development of new products, in addition to improving the functionality of the food, can reduce the use of chemical additives. Studies related to encouraging the use of guabiroba in food formulation, as well as the use of emerging technologies in the processing of this native fruit, become the basis of this review that aims to expand the knowledge of this Brazilian fruit and enhance its application in the food industry.
Keywords
Myrtaceae family; Gavirova; New products; Emerging technologies; Technological approach.
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Price Comparison of Moringa in the Greater District of Columbia Area, United States of America
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Introduction
Moringa oleifera (MO) is a nutritional herbal supplement that grows in many subtropical and tropical regions of the world including India, Africa, North and South America, and Asia. The purpose of this study is to review recent clinical studies regarding the health benefits of MO as well as investigate the availability and relative pricing of MO among retail local and online stores for the various Moringa dosage forms.
Method
In this study, price variations and availability of MO in 18 retail companies that serve the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia region were investigated. Price comparisons of the three major formulations of MO-powder, capsules, and tea-were performed through store-to-store and online searches.
Results
This investigation on retail selling pricing of Moringa has shown that Moringa is a very affordable and accessible product in the greater District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia region. However, we found a major gap and range in prices among the dosage forms and among the 18 stores included in our study. The average selling price per day for all dosage forms is $0.39, ranging from $0.31 to $0.55. The powder is the most commonly carried dosage form of the supplement, and also has the greatest variation in pricing among the stores. In addition, it was noted that the capsule is the most expensive dosage form ($0.55 vs. $0.31 for the powder and tea forms) for daily dosing. A comparison of cost per gram per day dosing was done and shows that there are significant differences in the selling price among the three dosage forms with a p-value of less than 0.05.
Discussion
MO has many health benefits and is an excellent value as a nutritional supplement. Numerous studies have shown Moringa to have excellent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity. In the evaluation of dosage price per day, it was found that for over half of the stores (56%; n=16) the Moringa powder was under $0.50, while for three-fourths of the stores (75%; n=12) it was under $1.00. Moringa is readily available in most stores. Over two-thirds (67%; n=11) of the stores carry all three dosage forms. However, there is a major gap range in the price per day and the daily dose quantity of the herb for each dosage form. The powder dosage form was found to be the most readily available form of the supplement and the least expensive.
Conclusion
It was found that Moringa is relatively inexpensive and is a great value for the health benefits obtained. The powder dosage form is the most readily available form while the capsule is the most expensive dosage form. It is important to emphasize in pharmacist counseling sessions that patients should shop around and compare prices when choosing their desired Moringa product.
Keywords
Moringa; Price comparison; Retail; Dietary supplement; Herbal medicine; Retail price.
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Assessment of Awareness and Opinion: Grape Seed Extractâs Health Benefits
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Abstract [+]
Objective
To determine pharmacy studentsâ opinion and knowledge of the role and overall health benefits of dietary and herbal supplements such as grape seed extract.
Methods
Forty-two pharmacy school students were asked to complete an online survey to assess their opinion and knowledge of the overall health benefits of grape seed extract using Likert-scale type questions.
Results
Respondents were given an optional survey which received a 100% response rate. The students were asked nine-demographic
questions, four-general lifestyle opinion questions, and five-opinion questions on grape seed extract and its overall health benefits. When investigating studentsâ responses, there was a significant variation between those that agreed to feeling comfortable enough to recommend grape seed extract to a patient with high blood pressure and agreeing to not looking in research evidence to make themselves aware of the benefit of grape seed extract in lowering blood pressure (p value=0.021). The scores of the five knowledge questions asked to the participants averaged 63.3%, with most of the students scoring below average (n=22, 52.4%). The question that received the highest rate of correct answers was question #2 that states that grape seed extract can improve blood flow (n=29, 69%). When investigating significance in response to blood-related questions (Q# 1,2,5) vs other organ-related questions (Q# 3,4), the results were significant (p value<0.001). Conclusion
Our results indicated that pharmacy students have a split general lifestyle opinion (n=22, 50%) when believing that grape seed extract had many benefits in lowering blood pressure. This study also indicated that first-year pharmacy students have limited knowledge of the application of grape seed extract in hypertension with an average passing score of 63.3% and over half (52.4%) of the students scoring below average. Results from this study additionally showed that demographic factors such as age, residence prior to attending pharmacy school and number of years worked prior to pharmacy school were significant in predicting the knowledge and opinion of grape seed extract. This supports the need to integrate more herbal product education within our pharmacy school modules. As patients become more interested in natural product therapies, it is the job of pharmacy students and pharmacists to educate themselves so they can aid in optimal care of all patients.
Keywords
Grape seed extract; Herbal supplements; Opinion; Knowledge; Pharmacy students.
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Development of Yoghurt Spread from Goat Milk and its Qualitative Valorization Using Chia Seed Oil
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Aim
Present study was conducted with a theme to develop yoghurt spread from goat milk owing to its therapeutic significance and ameliorate nutritional value and quality of the finished product via supplementation of chia seed oil.
Methodology
Four treatments (T0, T1, T2 and T3) possessing varying concentrations of chia seed oil (0, 2, 4 and 6%) were formulated and the first was opted as control. Samples were evaluated on 0th, 10th and 20th day for physicochemical (pH, acidity, TSS, total protein, fat), microbiological (total plate count) and sensory acceptance.
Results
Significant changes (increasing or decreasing trends) were perceived in all physicochemical parameters as the storage span progressed however minute differences were observed among different treatments except moisture content which varied significantly among different formulations. Total microbial count also increased with increase in storage days however decreased with increase
in concentration of chia seed oil. Sensorial attributes particularly product acceptability was considerably reduced at the end of storage period.
Conclusion
Generally, addition of chia seed oil at different concentration to yoghurt spread improves the sensory properties and overall acceptability, extends the shelf life and enhances nutrition values. Goat milk is preferable to cow milk owing to essential nutrients it provides to infants and substantial therapeutic significance.
Keywords
Yoghurt spread; Goat milk; Chia seed oil; Qualitative valorization; Shelf life.
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Nutritional Interventions for Surgical Patients
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During a state of trauma, such as injury or surgery, the bodyâs nutritional needs are expected to increase. The body enters a higher metabolic state and requires more energy, the immune system is weakened due to stress, and persistent inflammation delays full return to normal function. Surgical nutritional interventions have demonstrated that targeted nutrition can enhance outcomes in
acute patients and chronic conditions. This paper reviews the state of the clinical evidence on nutrition as a remedy for improving musculoskeletal and surgical patient outcomes.
Keywords
Nutrition; Orthopedics; Cosmetic; Surgery; Outcomes; Supplementation; Healing; Recovery.
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Dietary Recommendation in Diabetes Care: Carbohydrate Counting and Caloric Content of Nigerian Foods
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Influence of Nutritional Awareness on Grocery Shopping by Kuwaiti Parents in Relation to Children Nutrition
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Avianomics: The Beginning at the End
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Previous Issue
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Combining Ability Analysis in Sweet Corn (Zea Mays Saccharrata L.) Using Line by Tester Design
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Aim
The purpose of this study was to investigate the different combination of testcrosses for morphological and yield relating traits and to investigate general combining ability of the inbred lines.
Materials and Methods
This research was conducted at The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan during 2016. Line x-tester analysis was used to test general combining ability (GCA) effects of 24 S4 lines of sweet corn. Alpha lattice design with two replications and two checks was used during the experiment. Research data were recorded on various flowering, morphological and yield parameters.
Results
Highly significant variations were recorded among the testcrosses for the studied traits except anthesis silking interval (ASI), 100-kernel weight. Minimum days to tasseling (48-days) and silking (53.5-days) was exhibited by pop-syn-swt (9-4)Ăsynthetic sweet. GCA effect was -2.14 for tasseling and -2.00 for silking. Maximum value (3.5-days) for ASI was recorded for Pop-synswt 1(8-3)Ăsynthetic sweet, while GCA effect for ASI was -0.71. Lowest plant height (129.8 cm) was recorded for pop-syn-swt 1(3-3)Ăsynthetic sweet, while GCA effect for plant height was observed to be -14.79. Maximum cob length (16.6 cm) was revealed by pop-syn-swt 1(12-2)Ăsynthetic sweet. For cob length GCA effect of 1.01 was recorded. Maximum 100 kernel weight (31.3 g) was estimated for pop-syn-swt 1(2-1)Ăsynthetic sweet. GCA effect of 1.85 was recorded for 100-kernel weight. Highest mean (7143.9 kg ha-1) for grain yield was recorded for pop-syn-swt 1(9-4)Ăsynthetic sweet. GCA effect for grain yield was found to be 1370.93.
Conclusion
Generally a low GCA value, either positive or negative indicates that the mean of a parent does not largely vary from its offsprings. In contrast, high GCA value suggests that parent is either superior or inferior to the general mean and it has high heritability and less environmental effects. Based on the findings in this research, the above mentioned testcrosses can be included in future sweet corn breeding programs where early flowering and yield attributes is desired.
Keywords
Sweet corn; General combining ability; Inbred lines; Line by tester; Yield; Flowering.
Dietary Recommendation in Diabetes Care: Carbohydrate Counting and Caloric Content of Nigerian Foods
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The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is rising globally and even more in low and middle-income countries such as Nigeria. Optimal management of the disease is important to improve survival and prevent or delay its complications. Lifestyle management is a standard universal approach in optimizing the care given to diabetic patients. Dietary management is the central link in lifestyle modifications of individuals living with diabetes. Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is a systematic therapeutic approach of assessing the nutritional needs of an individual, determining nutritional goals, counselling the clients on how to achieve the goals, prescribing and monitoring meal plans to achieve the goals. It is evidence-based, effective and highly recommended. All carers of the diabetes patient, including the health workers and the family members of the patients, need to have basic understanding of medical nutrition therapy but the efforts should be coordinated by licensed dietitians. There are evidences that adherence to prescribed calories is effective in the control of cardiovascular risk factors such as blood glucose, weight, lipid profile and blood pressure. However, prescription of calories should be based on thoughtful consideration of the nutritional needs, weight goal, personal preferences and tastes and cultural practices of individuals living with diabetes mellitus. Food pyramids give a graphical illustration on the recommended classes and servings of food. Six to eleven servings per day of carbohydrates, 3-5 servings per day of vegetables, 2-4 servings per day of fruit, 2-3 servings per day of dairy products and 2-3 servings per day of fish are the recommended proportions of the different classes of foods for an adult on an average of 2000 calories. Carbohydrate counting, taken with appropriate insulin dosing and physical activity, has been demonstrated to be effective in optimizing the glycaemic control of patients on multiple daily insulin injections. There are challenges in doing this in Nigeria due to lack of food labels. The caloric contents of common Nigerian foods are highlighted so as to help in achieving dietary goals.
Keywords
Diabetes care; Dietary approach; Carbohydrate counting; Caloric content of Nigerian foods.
Influence of Nutritional Awareness on Grocery Shopping by Kuwaiti Parents in Relation to Children Nutrition
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Background
Caregivers, specifically parents, are ultimately responsible for the nutrition of children living in the household, in spite of the childrenâs preferences for food items. There have been no studies on the relationship between the nutritional knowledge level of Kuwaiti parents who grocery shop and their childrenâs nutrition. Therefore, this study was carried out to explore grocery shopping patterns of Kuwaiti parents in relation to their children’s eating habits.
Methods
A questionnaire was administered by 4 of the authors through face-to-face interviews with 100 Kuwaiti parents who grocery shop for their families. The questionnaire was designed to cover three main categories: demographics, parentsâ nutritional knowledge, and childrenâs nutrition. Subjects were interviewed at random at 6 supermarket locations. Data were analyzed utilizing a SPSS statistical package and the ChiâSquare test was used to examine the association between variables at the p<0.05 level of significance.
Results
Demographic data of respondents showed that 92% were married, 66% were females, 61% were university graduates, and 84% allowed children to choose food items while shopping. Childrenâs age ranged from 2 to 18-years. Results indicated that the media was the main source of nutrition knowledge of participants. About 50% were familiar with food labels, 74% were shopping for nutrition claims and most parents (60%) were shopping for low-fat products. Analysis of data revealed several associations among demographics, nutrition knowledge of parents and nutrition of children.
Conclusion
This study is the first of its type to be carried out in Kuwait. It revealed several important aspects of parentsâ background and awareness of nutrition as influencing factors on their grocery shopping. It is hoped that this line of research will be expanded, for the benefit of childrenâs health and avoidance of future nutrition-related diseases.
Keywords
Children; Health; Kuwait; Nutrition interest; Nutrition knowledge; Parents.
Avianomics: The Beginning at the End
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The research-teaching nexus is the pinnacle of academic activity. As a scientist and educator, my overall objective is to give students access to cutting-edge research and help them develop high order inquiry skills. In addition, as research and thesis writing frequently involves the development of new complex reading skills associated with comprehension and synthesis of a tremendous volume of information, along with in-depth critical analysis, evaluation, and elegant academic writing style, I decided to assign this editorial to my 2020-Biochemical Nutrition graduate students. As my students have diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and have been exposed to a variety of tech-based learning, we decided to summarize here recent advances in omics research in avian species to facilitate the discussion by asking new questions, which may help open new vistas for future investigations. By following the âscaffoldedâ approach, my students highlighted progress in Transcriptomics (Komp M and Bowie R), Proteomics (Tabler T and Lee T), Kinomics (Hernandez RM and Zuo B), Epigenomics (Ferver A), Metabolomics (Maynard C and Mullenix G), and Microbiomics (Teyssier JR and Bodle B). I would like to thank my students for their motivation, dedication,
determination, perseverance, connection, consistency, and support. I would also like to thank AFTNS-OJ for inviting me to write this editorial and I hope by getting my students involved would promote their curiosity, help them understand complex questions, explore more sources, stimulate their independent thinking, and create research- and question-mindsets.
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