Showing papers on "Mineral absorption published in 2019"

Fermentation of pseudocereals quinoa, canihua, and amaranth to improve mineral accessibility through degradation of phytate.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Pseudocereals are nutrient-rich grains with high mineral content but also phytate content. Phytate is a mineral absorption inhibitor. The study's aim was to evaluate phytate degradation during spontaneous fermentation and during Lactobacillus plantarum 299v® fermentation of quinoa, canihua, and amaranth grains and flours. It also aimed to evaluate the accessibility of iron, zinc, and calcium and to estimate their bioavailability before and after the fermentation of flours with starter culture. Lactic acid, pH, phytate, and mineral content were analyzed during fermentation. RESULTS: Higher phytate degradation was found during the fermentation of flours (64–93%) than during that of grains (12–51%). Results suggest that phytate degradation was mainly due to endogenous phytase activity in different pseudocereals rather than the phytase produced by added microorganisms. The addition of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v® resulted in a higher level of lactic acid (76.8–82.4 g kg−1 DM) during fermentation, and a relatively quicker reduction in pH to 4 than in spontaneous fermentation. Mineral accessibility was increased (1.7–4.6-fold) and phytate : mineral molar ratios were reduced (1.5–4.2-fold) in agreement with phytate degradation (1.8–4.2-fold) in fermented flours. The reduced molar ratios were still above the threshold value for the improved estimated mineral bioavailability of mainly iron. CONCLUSION: Fermentation proved to be effective for degrading phytate in pseudocereal flours, but less so in grains. Fermentation with Lactobacillus plantarum 299v® improved mineral accessibility and estimated bioavailability in flours. (Less)

Effects of soil compaction on plant growth, nutrient absorption, and root respiration in soybean seedlings.

Abstract: Soil compaction is a major environmental problem that affects plant growth and development. In this study, to further our understanding of its negative effects on plant growth, we investigated the effects of soil compaction on the growth, mineral absorption, and activities of key respiratory enzymes in soybean seedlings. We found that moderate-level soil compaction increased the activities of pyruvate kinase and phosphofructokinase in soybean seedling roots, enhancing the accumulation of P, K, Mg, Ca, and other elements. These accumulated elements, particularly Ca, increased the number of fibrous upper roots, but reduced root length and inhibited plant growth. High-level soil compaction inhibited the accumulation of P, K, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn and increased the accumulation of Ca via decreasing the activities of isocitrate dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase. These effects led to a decreased root cell size, blurred root cell boundaries, and the inhibition of plant growth. Taken together, our results provide a new insight into the mechanisms by which soil compaction inhibits plant growth.

Model of vitamin and mineral deficiency for toxicological research: Apoptosis activity under conditions of CCL4 intoxication.

Abstract: The apoptosis activity and clinical state in vitamin and mineral supplemented male Wistar rats was evaluated after carbon tetrachloride exposure (CCL4). The animals were divided equally into 6 groups (3 control groups and 3 exposure groups) with the control groups (C-75, C-30, C-19) receiving AIN-93, a specific diet for rodents, consisting of a 75%, 30% and 19% ratio of vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6) and minerals (Fe3+ and Mg2+) and exposure groups (E-75, E-30, E-19) receiving the same diet paradigm as with the control groups but with the additional CCL4 administered once a week as an olive oil solution (control groups received the same ratio of olive oil without CCL4) for a duration of 64 days. The systemic condition of the male Wistar rats was evaluated based on morphological parameters and hematological and biochemical analysis, whereas the apoptosis activity in the liver was evaluated via comet assay techniques. The apoptosis activity in the liver of control and exposure groups increased compared to the decrease in the essential substance provisions with the E-75 group reaching 129% (p 0.05) higher in the E-30 and E-19 groups compared to the C-30 and C-19 groups, respectively. From the apoptosis results and clinical state evaluation, it is clearly demonstrated that the effectiveness of using apoptosis activity as a biomarker after CCL4 exposure and the vitamin and mineral absorption capability in male Wistar rats can be applied as an evaluating method for toxicological research.

Cereal fructan extracts alter intestinal fermentation to reduce adiposity and increase mineral retention compared to oligofructose.

Abstract: Intestinal fermentation of inulin-type fructans, including oligofructose, can modulate adiposity, improve energy regulation, and increase mineral absorption. We aimed to determine whether cereal fructans had greater effects on reducing adiposity and improving mineral absorption compared with oligofructose. Thirty-two male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments that contained 0% fructan (control), or 5% fructan provided by oligofructose (OF), a barley grain fraction (BGF), or a wheat stem fraction (WSF). After 1 week on the diets, mineral absorption and retention was assessed. At 4 weeks, blood samples were collected for gut hormone analysis, adipose depots were removed and weighed, and caecal digesta was analyzed for pH and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). The BGF and WSF, but not OF, had lower total visceral fat weights than the Control (p < 0.05). The fructan diets all lowered caecal pH and raised caecal digesta weight and total SCFA content, in comparison to the Control. Caecal propionate levels for OF were similar to the Control and higher for WSF (p < 0.05). Plasma peptide YY and glucagon-like peptide-1 levels were elevated for all fructan groups when compared to Control (p < 0.001) and gastric inhibitory peptide was lower for the WSF compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). The fructan diets improved calcium and magnesium retention, which was highest for WSF (p < 0.05). BGF and WSF in comparison to OF showed differential effects on fermentation, gut hormone levels, and adiposity. Cereal fructan sources have favorable metabolic effects that suggest greater improvements in energy regulation and mineral status to those reported for oligofructose.

Fermentation of quinoa, canihua and amaranth to degrade phytate and improve mineral bioavailability

Abstract: Plant-based diets are the main source of nutrients for vegetarians worldwide and for low-income inhabitants of developing countries, such as in rural areas of Bolivia. These diets may contain high levels of mineral inhibitors such as phytate that impairs mineral absorption in the human gut. Low intake of minerals in combination with mineral inhibitors is a critical factor leading to mineral deficiencies. In addition, there is an increasing interest in nutrient-rich pseudocereal grains such as quinoa, canihua and amaranth, as a source of high value proteins and gluten-free foods. Thereby, new processing methods that can improve the nutritional value as well as the sensory properties of these pseudocereal grains are being sought. The main aim of the present research was to evaluate the effect of fermentation on improving the bioavailability of iron, zinc and calcium in quinoa, canihua and amaranth. All three pseudocereal grains and flours were fermented spontaneously or with Lactobacillus plantarum 299v® to degrade the phytate content. Estimated bioavailability of iron, zinc and calcium was determined using phytate:mineral molar ratios. Iron, zinc and calcium accessibility of non-fermented and fermented pseudocereal flours was determined by in vitro assay. Bioavailability of iron and zinc of non-fermented and fermented quinoa and canihua flours was assessed using a rat model. In addition, acceptability of dry toasted and fermented quinoa was evaluated using a hedonic sensory evaluation. The results showed that among seventeen foods commonly consumed in rural areas of Bolivia, pseudocereals contained a comparable high level of minerals and phytate. Fermentation was more effective to degrade phytate in quinoa, canihua and amaranth flours (47%–93%) than in grains (12%–51%). The results suggested that phytate degradation was mainly due to endogenous phytase activity in different pseudocereals rather than the phytase produced by the fermentation culture. The estimated mineral bioavailability (phytate:mineral) of fermented quinoa, canihua and amaranth flours were increased between 1.5- and 4.2-fold and the mineral accessibility was increased between 1.7- and 4.6-fold as a consequence of the phytate degradation, which was between 1.8- and 4.2-fold. Regarding mineral bioavailability, iron concentration was higher in the livers (43%–52%) of animals fed fermented quinoa and canihua diets compared to the corresponding non-fermented diets. Moreover, iron and zinc content in the liver and femur of animals fed a diet with 60% fermented quinoa were higher to those of animals fed a diet with the same content of non-fermented quinoa. The iron retention in the liver was mainly influenced by iron and lactic acid content in the diet while zinc retention in the femur was mainly affected by phytate content in the diet. The fermentation process of quinoa created a challenging flavour profile. Dry toasting was found being effective in improving the sensory attributes of the fermented quinoa flour. Among the different samples tested, porridge prepared with raw quinoa flour fermented for 4 h followed by dry toasting had higher overall acceptability combined with a significant phytate reduction. In conclusion, fermentation proved to be an effective procedure for degrading phytate in quinoa, canihua and amaranth. Mineral accessibility (in vitro) was higher in fermented flours than in non-fermented, the in vivo bioavailability of iron and zinc was higher in diets containing fermented quinoa and canihua than in the corresponding non-fermented diets. In addition, dry toasting process improved the sensory attributes and acceptability of fermented quinoa flour. (Less)

Mannitol evaluated mineral absorption and bone retention in ovariectomized rats.

Abstract: Indigestible sugars are used in food production and pharmaceutical industry due to their desirable properties. The effects of mannitol on Ca and Mg absorption and retention in ovariectomized rats were evaluated. Five weeks old ovariectomized Wistar rats were given Ca, Mg-deficient diet for 28 days then fed a control diet or 8% mannitol diets for another 28 days. Feaces were collected twice for 72h to measure mineral absorption. On day 56, rats were slaughtered and cecal parameters were observed. Femurs were collected to measure mineral levels. Results were shown that mineral absorption and femoral mineral was significantly increased by mannitol feeding. Cecal parameters were significantly altered after mannitol consumption. In conclusion, Ca and Mg absorption and their retention were improved by cecal fermentation of mannitol in ovariectomized rats.