Explore the vast range of titles available.

Child malnutrition remains a major public health problem in low-income African communities, caused by factors including the low nutritional value of indigenous/local complementary porridges (CP) fed to infants and young children. Most African children subsist on locally available starchy foods, whose oral texture is not well-characterized in relation to their sensorimotor readiness. The sensory quality of CP a ects oral processing (OP) abilities in infants and young children. Unsuitable oral texture limits nutrient intake, leading to protein-energy malnutrition. The perception of the oral texture of selected African CPs (n = 13, Maize, Sorghum, Cassava, Orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP), Cowpea, and Bambara) was investigated by a trained temporal-check-all-that-apply (TCATA) panel (n = 10), alongside selected commercial porridges (n = 19). A simulated OP method (Up-Down mouth movements- munching) and a control method (lateral mouth movements- normal adult-like chewing) were used. TCATA results showed that Maize, Cassava, and Sorghum porridges were initially too thick, sticky, slimy, and pasty, and also at the end not easy to swallow even at low solids content—especially by the Up-Down method. These attributes make CPs di cult to ingest for infants given their limited OP abilities, thus, leading to limited nutrient intake, and this can contribute to malnutrition. Methods to improve the texture properties of indigenous CPs are needed to optimize infant nutrient intake.

Background/Objectives: Low- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCSs) provide sweetness in food applications that are suggested to support consumers’ reduced consumption of caloric sweeteners and added sugar intake. Consumers seek guidance and advice on using LNCSs from healthcare providers, including dietitians and nutritionists. However, prior research suggests there may be inconsistent guidance on the use of LNCSs. The main goal is to assess dietitians’ and nutritionists’ perceptions and knowledge of LNCSs. We also evaluate the impact of educational intervention on the perceptions and knowledge of low- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCSs) among healthcare professionals. Methods: Participants completed an online questionnaire on their perceptions of LNCSs before and after viewing a webinar given by a member of the FDA on the safety and approval process of LNCSs. A total of 187 participants completed the pre-questionnaire, and 58 participants completed the post-questionnaire. Results: The LNCSs most familiar to participants was aspartame, followed by stevia, with thaumatin, advantame, and neotame being the least familiar sweeteners. While all sweeteners were FDA-approved, there were differences in perceived safety and suitability for dietary use. Following the intervention, there was a significant improvement in the participant’s knowledge, understanding, and confidence in the safety and approval process of LNCSs and reduced negative perceptions of LNCSs on health. Conclusions: With nutritionists and dietitians being the primary sources of nutritional guidance, consumers may seek their recommendations regarding using LNCSs. However, this study revealed differences in suitability across FDA-approved LNCSs and a lack of confidence regarding the safety and approval process. Education programs regarding the safety and approval process of LNCSs increase confidence in advising patients and clients on the use of LNCSs.

Child malnutrition remains a major public health problem in low-income African communities, caused by factors including the porridge rheology, poor oral texture quality and low nutritional value of mainly the indigenous/local complementary porridges (CPs), but also some commercially available complementary porridges (CACFs) fed to infants and young children. The flow properties (viscosity) of common indigenous/locally available African CPs (n = 8) plus CACFs (n = 23) were investigated at shear rates 0.001/s – 1000/s and 40 °C, using a rotational rheometer. The perception of the oral texture of the selected African CPs, Maize, Sorghum, Cassava, Orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP), Cowpea, and Bambara) and CACFs was investigated by a trained temporal-check-all-that-apply (TCATA) panel (n = 10). A simulated OP method (Up-Down mouth movements- munching) and a control method (lateral mouth movements- normal adult-like rotary chewing) were used. Energy densities of the flour were calculated from proximate analysis data using Atwater factors, and the solids (%) at which the porridge samples had viscosity of 3 Pa.s used to determine the porridges’ energy and protein densities. Results showed a first-order exponential relationship between the apparent viscosity and solids (%) at all shear rates. Maize, sorghum and cassava porridges had very high viscosity profiles and consistency coefficients- K values (173.2; 134.7 and 105.9 Pa.sn respectively) compared to a reference sample (4.7 Pa.sn) and OFSP (3.5 Pa.sn). The Cross model was able to predict the zer-shear viscosity of CPs, with maize, sorghum, cassava porridges (10 % solids), as well as some CACFs having very high zero-shear viscosity values. Some commercially available complementary foods (CACFs) also had high viscosity values and did not meet the WHO and Codex standards for energy and protein content. TCATA results showed that Maize, vi Cassava, and Sorghum porridges, and some CACFs were too thick, sticky, slimy, and pasty, and at the end not easy to swallow even at low solids content—especially by the Up-Down method, which simulates food oral processing in infants. Unsuitable oral texture limits nutrient intake in infants given their limited OP abilities, leading to protein-energy malnutrition. At very low shear rates estimates for infant oral processing, all indigenous complementary porridges, and some CACFs did not provide adequate energy to infants and young children (6 – 24 months), compared to OFSP. Further work is required to improve the viscosity and sensory properties of both African indigenous porridges and CACFs for optimization of infant nutrient intake. There is need to establish more precise shear rates applicable for in-mouth oral processing in infants and young children to assist in the design of infant foods of suitable oral texture.

The sensory and nutritional quality of orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) crisps can be optimized by utilizing storage roots with suitable physical and chemical properties. Three root types from the OFSP cultivars Impilo, Bophelo and 199062.1 were evaluated for physicochemical composition in both raw and deep-fat fried state. Frying significantly lowered the L* , a* , b*, E, h and C colour values for all three root types making the crisps darker compared to raw slices. The dry matter content (%) of Impilo, Bophelo and 199062.1 roots were 19.0, 23.1 and 27.2 respectively. The low dry matter Impilo tubers had the highest glucose content while the high dry matter 199062.1 roots had the lowest, with Bophelo roots intermediate for both the dry matter and glucose content.Deep-fat frying significantly increased the oil content in the crisps. Crisps from high dry matter roots (199062.1) had significantly lower oil content (25.7 %) compared to those from medium dry matter roots (Bophelo) (32.6 %) and low dry matter roots (Impilo) (35.6 %). This reflects the influence of the physical and chemical properties of the root (e.g. dry matter content) on oil absorption. Medium to high dry matter root (Bophelo and 199062.1) crisps had higher stress and hardness values than low dry matter root (Impilo) crisps based on a compression test. High dry matter root (199062.1) crisps had significantly higher first fracture deformation values compared to low dry matter root (Impilo) crisps, with Bophelo root crisps intermediate.Crisps prepared from roots of three OFSP cultivars (Impilo, Bophelo and 199062.1) and four other commercial crisp products (butternut, pumpkin, sweet potato and carrot) were further evaluated using Flash Profile (FP) sensory methodology. The sensory profiles of crisps from Bophelo and Impilo roots were more similar and were perceived as more orange and darker, harder, sweeter and less oily compared to 199062.1 crisps. The colour, appearance and flavour of OFSP crisps was influenced by the type and content of sugar in roots, with higher glucose and fructose content in Impilo tubers resulting in darker and sweeter flavoured crisps compared to crisps from Bophelo and 199062.1 roots. The higher β-carotene content of Bophelo roots produced crisps with more intense orange colour, while crisps from 199062.1 roots had the least intense orange colour. OFSP crisps were more orange and darker in colour, and were sweeter relative to commercial samplesHigh dry matter (199062.1) and high trans-β-carotene (Bophelo) roots can be used to produce value-added crisps with low oil, high trans-β-carotene content and with desirable textural and appearance properties for consumer acceptance. The physico-chemical variations of the OFSP storage root types affect the sensory and nutritional quality of deep-fat fried crisps and this could be exploited in crisp product diversification, in efforts to meet the varied and dynamic sensory expectations of consumers. Using roots with high dry matter (e.g. 199062.1), and high β-carotene content (e.g. Bophelo) in the production of OFSP crisps could optimize product texture, oil content, colour and β-carotene content when compared to root types of low dry matter content (e.g. Impilo). OFSP roots from 199062.1 cultivar may be an ideal choice for cost-effective low fat OFSP crisps with considerable β-carotene content. Low fat crisps would be in tandem with current nutritional thinking on the health benefits of low fat food.

The three major soil-transmitted helminths (STH) Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Necator americanus/Ancylostoma duodenale are among the most widespread parasites worldwide. Despite the global expansion of preventive anthelmintic treatment, standard operating procedures to monitor anthelmintic drug efficacy are lacking. The objective of this study, therefore, was to define the efficacy of a single 400 milligram dose of albendazole (ALB) against these three STH using a standardized protocol. Seven trials were undertaken among school children in Brazil, Cameroon, Cambodia, Ethiopia, India, Tanzania and Vietnam. Efficacy was assessed by the Cure Rate (CR) and the Fecal Egg Count Reduction (FECR) using the McMaster egg counting technique to determine fecal egg counts (FEC). Overall, the highest CRs were observed for A. lumbricoides (98.2%) followed by hookworms (87.8%) and T. trichiura (46.6%). There was considerable variation in the CR for the three parasites across trials (country), by age or the pre-intervention FEC (pre-treatment). The latter is probably the most important as it had a considerable effect on the CR of all three STH. Therapeutic efficacies, as reflected by the FECRs, were very high for A. lumbricoides (99.5%) and hookworms (94.8%) but significantly lower for T. trichiura (50.8%), and were affected to different extents among the 3 species by the pre-intervention FEC counts and trial (country), but not by sex or age. Our findings suggest that a FECR (based on arithmetic means) of >95% for A. lumbricoides and >90% for hookworms should be the expected minimum in all future surveys, and that therapeutic efficacy below this level following a single dose of ALB should be viewed with concern in light of potential drug resistance. A standard threshold for efficacy against T. trichiura has yet to be established, as a single-dose of ALB is unlikely to be satisfactory for this parasite. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01087099.

We have previously shown a reduction in anaemia and wasting malnutrition in infants <3 years old in Pemba Island, Zanzibar, following repeated anthelminthic treatment for the endemic gastrointestinal (GI) nematodes Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm and Trichuris trichiura. In view of the low intensity of worm infections in this age group, this was unexpected, and it was proposed that immune responses to the worms rather than their direct effects may play a significant role in morbidity in infants and that anthelminthic treatment may alleviate such effects. Therefore, the primary aims of this study were to characterise the immune response to initial/early GI nematode infections in infants and the effects of anthelminthic treatment on such immune responses. The frequency and levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines (IL-5, IL-13, IFN-gamma and IL-10) induced by the worms were evaluated in 666 infants aged 6-24 months using the Whole Blood Assay. Ascaris and hookworm antigens induced predominantly Th2 cytokine responses, and levels of IL-5 and IL-13 were significantly correlated. The frequencies and levels of responses were higher for both Ascaris positive and hookworm positive infants compared with worm negative individuals, but very few infants made Trichuris-specific cytokine responses. Infants treated every 3 months with mebendazole showed a significantly lower prevalence of infection compared with placebo-treated controls at one year following baseline. At follow-up, cytokine responses to Ascaris and hookworm antigens, which remained Th2 biased, were increased compared with baseline but were not significantly affected by treatment. However, blood eosinophil levels, which were elevated in worm-infected children, were significantly lower in treated children. Thus the effect of deworming in this age group on anaemia and wasting malnutrition, which were replicated in this study, could not be explained by modification of cytokine responses but may be related to eosinophil function.