Comparative analysis of ascorbic acid in human milk and infant formula using varied milk delivery systems

Effects of Low Vitamin C Intake on Fertility Parameters and Pregnancy Outcomes in Guinea Pigs

Identifying how specific nutrients can impact fertility, pregnancy, and neonatal outcomes will yield important insights into the biological mechanisms linking diet and reproductive health. Our study investigates how dietary vitamin C intake affects various fertility parameters and pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in the guinea pig, a natural model of vitamin C dependency. Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs were fed an optimal (900 mg/kg feed) or low (100 mg/kg feed) vitamin C diet ad libitum for at least three weeks prior to mating and throughout pregnancy. We found that animals receiving the low vitamin C diet had an increased number of unsuccessful matings, a higher incidence of foetal reabsorption, and, among pregnancies resulting in delivery at term, produced fewer offspring. Neonates from mothers on the low vitamin C diet had significantly decreased plasma vitamin C concentrations at birth and exhibited mild growth impairments in a sex-dependent manner. We conclude that a diet low of vitamin C induces a state of subfertility, reduces overall fecundity, and adversely impacts both pregnancy outcomes and growth in the offspring. Our study provides an essential foundation for future investigations to determine whether these findings translate to humans. If so, they could have important clinical implications for assisted reproductive technologies and nutritional recommendations for couples trying to conceive, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.

A Simple, Cost-Effective, and Green HPTLC Method for the Estimation of Ascorbic Acid in Solvent and Ultrasound-Assisted Extracts of Phyllanthus emblica, Capsicum annuum, and Psidium guajava

Greener analytical methodologies for the estimation of ascorbic acid (AA) are poorly reported in the literature. Furthermore, the green indexes of the literature’s analytical assays of AA estimation have not been assessed. As a consequence, the aim of this research is to invent and validate a simple, cost-effective, and green reverse-phase “high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC)” method for the estimating AA in the solvent extracts (SE) and ultrasound-assisted extracts (UAE) of Phyllanthus emblica, Psidium guajava, and Capsicum annuum. The greener mobile phase for AA estimation was a binary mixture of water and ethanol (70:30, v/v). At a wavelength of 265 nm, the detection of AA was carried out. The greener HPTLC technique was linear in the 25–1200 ng/band range. In addition, the method was simple, cost-effective, accurate, precise, robust, sensitive, and green. The amount of AA was highest in the SE and UAE of P. emblica compared to the SE and UAE of P. guajava and C. annuum. The amount of AA in the SE of P. emblica, P. guajava, and C. annuum was found to be 491.16, 168.91, and 144.30 mg/100 g, respectively. However, the amount of AA in the UAE of P. emblica, P. guajava, and C. annuum was found to be 673.02, 218.71, and 199.30 mg/100 g, respectively. Using the “analytical GREEnness (AGREE)” methodology, the greenness index for the developed method was calculated to be 0.88, showing that the developed method has an excellent green profile. When it came to extracting AA, the UAE method outperformed the SE method. These findings suggested that the developed method might be used to estimate the AA in a variety of vegetable crops, plant-based extracts, and commercial formulations. Furthermore, because of the use of greener solvent systems against the commonly utilized hazardous solvent systems for AA determination, this technique is also safe and sustainable.

Total antioxidant concentrations of breastmilk--an eye-opener to the negligent

The balance between free radical production and antioxidant defenses in the body has important systemic and oral health implications. There is convincing evidence that breastmilk containing antioxidants is important in the prevention of diseases in infancy. This study compared the total antioxidant concentration of human breastmilk expressed at different stages of lactation, stored at various temperatures and durations. Expressed breastmilk (EBM) samples of the third, seventh and 30th day were collected from women who had term and preterm deliveries (n = 20). Another cohort of women (n = 20) was also assessed; these women were more than five months postpartum and lactating. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of EBM was assessed at zero hours at room temperature, at 48 hours, one week post-refrigeration (4 degrees C), and freezing (-8 degrees C) respectively using the phosphomolybdenum method. The highest antioxidant levels were found in colostrum. The TAC of EBM reduced with time and at post-refrigeration and after freezing (p < 0.0005). No significant difference in the mean TAC was observed between the EBM samples obtained from women with either term or preterm deliveries. The progressive loss of antioxidant content of EBM emphasizes the need of awareness and curtailment of the practice of storing and later use of EBM.

Quantification of hexanal as an index of lipid oxidation in human milk and association with antioxidant components

Hexanal, a secondary product of lipid oxidation, was identified as the major volatile aldehyde generated from lipid peroxidation in human milk. Hexanal was quantified in human milk using solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography/flame ionization detection that required correction for recovery based on the fat content of human milk. Alpha-tocopherol was the only tocopherol isomer in human milk found to be significantly correlated with hexanal (R = -0.374, p<0.05) and the total antioxidant capacity of human milk (ORAC(Fl) (R = 0.408, p<0.01)). Ascorbic acid content was negatively correlated (R = -0.403, p<0.05) with hexanal, but not to ORAC(Fl) in human milk. The effect of Holder pasteurization on oxidative status of human milk was determined using multiple parameters that included, hexanal level and malondialdehyde as markers of lipid oxidation, vitamins C and E content and antioxidant capacity (e.g. ORAC(Fl)). Pasteurization did not affect the oxidative status of milk as measured by hexanal level, ORAC(Fl) and malondialdehyde content. We conclude that hexanal is a sensitive and useful chemical indicator for assessing peroxidation reactions in human milk and that alpha tocopherol and ascorbic acid are two key antioxidant components in milk that contribute to protection against oxidation of milk lipids.