Vitamin D Fortification of Consumption Cow's Milk: Health, Nutritional and Technological Aspects. A Multidisciplinary Lecture of the Recent Scientific Evidence

Dietary Consumption With Vitamin D Status Among Pregnant Women: A Descriptive-Analytic Study

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D status and diet between pregnant and non-pregnant women who attended a Maternity Teaching Hospital (MTH) in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A descriptive-analytic (cross-sectional) study was conducted at the MTH in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. Data was collected from January to October 2022, including demographics, obstetric information, and dietary data. Vitamin D levels were measured using the Roche Elecsys assay (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States). The non-pregnant group consisted of women who were not pregnant at the time of this study, and the pregnant group had women with second trimester pregnancy at the time of enrollment.

RESULT

The study revealed a significant prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women. In the study, pregnant participants (56.0% aged 30-39) and non-pregnant participants (54.3% aged 20-29) had similar ages (p>0.05). Both groups mostly had overweight individuals, with pregnant participants having a slightly higher mean body mass index (BMI). While vitamin D deficiency was more prevalent among pregnant women, the differences were not statistically significant. Notably, higher dairy intake was positively associated with higher vitamin D levels. Urban residency was common in both groups. Dietary habits were mostly similar, except for tea consumption (p<0.05), with non-tea drinkers having higher vitamin D levels. However, dietary patterns did not strongly correlate with vitamin D levels in the non-pregnant group.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals a significant prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women, although the differences between pregnant and non-pregnant groups were not statistically significant. The positive association between higher dairy intake and increased vitamin D levels underscores the potential impact of dietary choices on vitamin D status during pregnancy. However, the study also suggests that dietary patterns alone may not strongly correlate with vitamin D levels in non-pregnant women. Overall, this highlights the importance of addressing vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women and underscores the need for personalized dietary guidance, taking into account individual preferences and habits to promote better maternal health.

Assessment of Stress Levels in Lactating Cattle: Analyzing Cortisol Residues in Commercial Milk Products in Relation to the Temperature-Humidity Index

Chronic stress in the dairy cattle industry has negative impacts on animal health, productivity, and welfare. It has been confirmed that cortisol transfers to milk and resists the high temperature during milk processing. This study evaluated the relationship between the milk cortisol concentration (MCC) in commercial milk products and the temperature-humidity index (THI) at the time of milk production. Eleven commercially produced pasteurized and sterilized milk products, purchased in Chuncheon, Korea, with production dates ranging from July to October 2021 were analyzed. The MCC was extracted using diethyl ether and analyzed using an enzyme immunoassay. The average THI values based on microclimate data provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration were 77 ± 0.8, 75 ± 1.4, 69 ± 1.4, and 58 ± 1.8, in July, August, September, and October, respectively. The average MCC levels were 211.9 ± 95.1, 173.5 ± 63.8, 109.6 ± 53.2, and 106.7 ± 33.7 pg/mL in July, August, September, and October, respectively. The MCC in July was higher than in August, September, and October (p < 0.05), while it was lower in September and October than in August (p < 0.05). Significant variations in the MCC were observed in commercial milk products across the four production months (p < 0.05), except for two milk products. Overall, monitoring the cortisol residue in commercial dairy milk products can be an alternative indicator of stress in dairy cattle of farms.

Role of Vitamin D in Liver Disease and Complications of Advanced Chronic Liver Disease

Vitamin D is a crucial nutrient with many pleiotropic effects on health and various chronic diseases. The purpose of this review is to provide a detailed report on the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying vitamin D deficiency in patients with chronic liver disease, addressing the different liver etiologies and the condition of advanced chronic liver disease (cirrhosis) with related complications. To date, patients with liver disease, regardless of underlying etiology, have been shown to have reduced levels of vitamin D. There is also evidence of the predictive role of vitamin D values in complications and progression of advanced disease. However, specific indications of vitamin D supplementation are not conclusive concerning what is already recommended in the general population. Future studies should make an effort to unify and validate the role of vitamin D supplementation in chronic liver disease.

Reasonableness of Enriching Cow’s Milk with Vitamins and Minerals

Milk is an exceptional nutritional product that has been used for many millennia in human nutrition. Milk is a source of many valuable nutrients, including calcium, vitamin B, an especially significant amount of vitamin B2 and fat-soluble vitamins, such as A, D and E. Milk is an attractive product for fortification as it has a high nutritional density in a small volume and a relatively low price. Research shows positive health effects of drinking milk and consuming dairy products. Even more health benefits can be obtained from consuming fortified dairy products. A literature review, current nutritional recommendations, medical recommendations and an analysis of the market situation all recommend introducing milk enriched with minerals in combination with vitamins to the market. This concept corresponds to the current market demand and may supplement the missing and expected range of fortified milk and the correct number of recipients.