Micronutrient fortification of wheat flour: Recent development and strategies

Quality and antioxidant properties of breads enriched with dry onion (Allium cepa L.) skin

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect on the antioxidant properties and sensory value of bread of adding ground onion skin (OS). For a determination of bioaccessibility and bioavailability in vitro the human gastrointestinal tract model was used. OS contained mastication-extractable quercetin (4.6 mg/g). Quercetin from OS was highly bioaccessible during in vitro conditions, but only approximately 4% of quercetin released during simulated digestion was bioavailable in vitro. The antioxidant potential of bread with OS was significantly higher than the activity noted in the control. In particular, OS addition significantly fortificated bread with bioaccessible lipid oxidation preventers and compounds with reducing and chelating abilities. The 2-3% OS addition caused significant improvement of antioxidant abilities (further increases in the OS supplement did not increase the activity of bread). Sensory evaluation showed that replacement of wheat flour in bread with up to 3% OS powder gave satisfactory consumer acceptability.

Strategies to improve health coverage and narrow the equity gap in child survival, health, and nutrition

Implementation of innovative strategies to improve coverage of evidence-based interventions, especially in the most marginalised populations, is a key focus of policy makers and planners aiming to improve child survival, health, and nutrition. We present a three-step approach to improvement of the effective coverage of essential interventions. First, we identify four different intervention delivery channels--ie, clinical or curative, outreach, community-based preventive or promotional, and legislative or mass media. Second, we classify which interventions' deliveries can be improved or changed within their channel or by switching to another channel. Finally, we do a meta-review of both published and unpublished reviews to examine the evidence for a range of strategies designed to overcome supply and demand bottlenecks to effective coverage of interventions that improve child survival, health, and nutrition. Although knowledge gaps exist, several strategies show promise for improving coverage of effective interventions-and, in some cases, health outcomes in children-including expanded roles for lay health workers, task shifting, reduction of financial barriers, increases in human-resource availability and geographical access, and use of the private sector. Policy makers and planners should be informed of this evidence as they choose strategies in which to invest their scarce resources.

Effect of zinc and iron fortification of the feed on liver and thyroid function in rats

Changes in plasma glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxin (T4) of male rats, following 8 weeks of administration of different concentrations of elemental iron (EI), sodium iron ethylenediaminetetraacetate (NaFeEDTA), zinc sulfate (ZnSO(4)), and zinc oxide (ZnO) in whole wheat flour were investigated. Liver enzymes and thyroid hormones were determined using colorimetric methods and enzyme immune assay, respectively. Ingestion of fortified diets by the male rats did not show a marked effect on GOT and GPT, the exception being NaFeEDTA fed alone and EI with ZnO-fortified diets indicating a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in GOT levels in rats. Similarly, only NaFeEDTA significantly (p < 0.05) increased thyroxin, while EI, ZnSO(4), and ZnO either alone or in any combination did not alter thyroid secretions. Changes in GOT, GPT, T3, and T4 levels, as a result of ingesting iron and zinc-fortified diets by rats, ranged in the safe limits.