Maximising the bioaccessibility of iron and zinc of a complementary food mix through multiple strategies

Differential response of nano zinc sulphate with other conventional sources of Zn in mitigating salinity stress in rice grown on saline-sodic soil

Salinization causes the degradation of the soil and threatening the global food security but the application of essential micronutrients like zinc (Zn), improve the plant growth by stabilizing the plant cell and root development. Keeping in view the above-mentioned scenario, an experiment was conducted to compare the efficiency of conventional Zn fertilizers like zinc sulphate (ZnSO₄), zinc ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (Zn-EDTA) and advance nano Zn fertilizers such as zinc sulphate nanoparticles (ZnSO₄NPs), and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) (applied at the rate of 5 and 10 mg/kg) in saline-sodic soil. Results revealed that the maximum plant height (67%), spike length (72%), root length (162%), number of tillers (71%), paddy weight (100%), shoot dry weight (158%), and root dry weight (119%) was found in ZnSO₄NPs applied at the rate of 10 mg/kg (ZnSO₄NPs-10) as compared to salt-affected control (SAC). Similarly, the plants physiological attributes like chlorophyll contents (91%), photosynthesis rate (113%), transpiration rate (106%), stomatal conductance (56%) and internal CO₂ (11%) were increased by the application of ZnSO₄NPs-10, as compared to SAC. The maximum Zn concentration in root (153%), shoot (205%) and paddy (167%) found in ZnSO₄NPs-10, as compared to control. In the body of rice plants, other nutrients like phosphorus and potassium were also increased by the application of ZnSO₄NPs-10 and soil chemical attributes such as sodium and sodium adsorption ratio were decreased. The current experiment concluded that the application of ZnSO₄NPs at the rate of 10 mg/kg in salt-affected paddy soil increased the growth, physiology, up take of essential nutrients and yield of rice by balancing the cationic ratio under salt stress.

Cleaning the Label of Cured Meat; Effect of the Replacement of Nitrates/Nitrites on Nutrients Bioaccessibility, Peptides Formation, and Cellular Toxicity of In Vitro Digested Salami

Curing salts composed of mixtures of nitrates and nitrites are preservatives widely used in processed meats. Despite many desirable technological effects, their use in meat products has been linked to methemoglobinemia and the formation of nitrosamines. Therefore, an increasing “anti-nitrite feeling” has grown among meat consumers, who search for clean label products. In this view, the use of natural compounds as alternatives represents a challenge for the meat industry. Processing (including formulation and fermentation) induces chemical or physical changes of food matrix that can modify the bioaccessibility of nutrients and the formation of peptides, impacting on the real nutritional value of food. In this study we investigated the effect of nitrate/nitrite replacement with a combination of polyphenols, ascorbate, and nitrate-reducing microbial starter cultures on the bioaccessibility of fatty acids, the hydrolysis of proteins and the release of bioactive peptides after in vitro digestion. Moreover, digested salami formulations were investigated for their impacts on cell proliferation and genotoxicity in the human intestinal cellular model (HT-29 cell line). The results indicated that a replacement of synthetic nitrates/nitrites with natural additives can represent a promising strategy to develop innovative “clean label” salamis without negatively affecting their nutritional value.

New Insights into Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children: A Practical Review

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most frequent hematological disorder in children, with an incidence in industrialized countries of 20.1% between 0 and 4 years of age and 5.9% between 5 and 14 years (39 and 48.1% in developing countries). Although IDA has been recognized for a long time, there are still uncovered issues and room for improving the management of this condition. New frontiers regarding its diagnosis and therapeutic options emerge every day; recently, innovative formulations of iron have been launched, both for oral and parenteral administration, with the aim of offering treatment schedules with higher efficacy and lower toxicity. As a matter of fact, glycinate and liposomal preparations, while maintaining a satisfying efficacy profile, have significantly fewer side effects, in comparison to the traditional elemental iron salts; parenteral iron, usually considered a second-choice therapy reserved to selected cases, may evolve further, as a consequence of the production of molecules with an interesting clinical profile such as ferrocarboxymaltose, which is already available for adolescents aged >14 years. The present article reports the clinically relevant latest insights regarding IDA in children and offers a practical guide to help pediatricians, particularly to choose the most appropriate prevention and therapy strategies.