Suchergebnisse

The relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and plasma antioxidants has been established in adults. However, the association has been rarely investigated in healthy children. Thus, we examined the cross-sectional association of high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) levels with fat-soluble plasma antioxidant concentrations in a cohort of healthy prepubertal children. We determined hs-CRP levels in 543 healthy six–eight-year-old children using a high-sensitivity CRP enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The plasma concentrations of lipids, apolipoproteins and lipid-soluble antioxidants (α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, lycopene, α-carotene, β-carotene and retinol) were determined using standardized methods. Pearson correlation analysis showed significant correlations between plasma hs-CRP and α-carotene and retinol concentrations. After adjusting by sex, body mass index (BMI) and lipid levels, only the association with retinol remains significant, with children in the highest hs-CRP tertile group (hs-CRP ≥ 0.60 mg/dL) showing significantly lower levels of retinol than those from the tertiles 1 and 2. A stepwise linear regression selected retinol, BMI, apo A-I and sex as predictors of hs-CRP levels, in a model explaining 19.2% of the variability of hs-CRP. In conclusion, in healthy prepubertal children, after adjusting by sex, BMI and lipid levels, hs-CRP concentrations were highly associated with plasma retinol, which is transported in blood bound to retinol-binding protein but were not associated with the lipoprotein-bound antioxidants ; This research was funded by grants from the "Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria" (FIS 11/00344 and FIS 14/00344), Biobank grant FEDER RD09/0076/00101 and SAF2015-70747-R from the "Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad e Innovación". Olaya de Dios is a fellow of the Conchita Rábago Foundation. Leticia Herrero is the recipient of a research contract from the Board of Education , Youth, and Sport of the Madrid regional government, the European Social Fund, and the Youth Employment Initiative

The adsorption of retinol, niacinamide and glycolic acid active ingredients on the internal surface of halloysite in an aqueous environment was explored at the molecular level by means of calculations based on quantum mechanics and force fields from empirical interatomic potentials. These active ingredients are stably adsorbed on the internal surface of halloysite forming hydrogen bonds between the hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen atoms with the hydroxyl groups of the inner surface of the halloysite. In addition, electrostatic interaction between these active ingredients with the water molecules was observed. Therefore, the theoretical results indicate that the adsorption of these active principles is favourable in the halloysite nanotube, which allows directing future experimental investigations for the development and design of retinol, niacinamide and glycolic acid with halloysite nanotubes systems, which may be topical formulations for skincare. ; This research was funded by Spanish Ministerio de Economía, Industría y Competitividad, grant number PCIN2017-098, and by Regional Government Junta de Andalucía with FEDER European contribution, grant number P18-RT-3786.

This research was funded by Spanish Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad, grant number PCIN2017-098, and by Regional Government Junta de Andalucia with FEDER European contribution, grant number P18-RT-3786. ; The adsorption of retinol, niacinamide and glycolic acid active ingredients on the internal surface of halloysite in an aqueous environment was explored at the molecular level by means of calculations based on quantum mechanics and force fields from empirical interatomic potentials. These active ingredients are stably adsorbed on the internal surface of halloysite forming hydrogen bonds between the hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen atoms with the hydroxyl groups of the inner surface of the halloysite. In addition, electrostatic interaction between these active ingredients with the water molecules was observed. Therefore, the theoretical results indicate that the adsorption of these active principles is favourable in the halloysite nanotube, which allows directing future experimental investigations for the development and design of retinol, niacinamide and glycolic acid with halloysite nanotubes systems, which may be topical formulations for skincare. ; Spanish Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad PCIN2017-098 ; Junta de Andalucia ; European Commission P18-RT-3786

Fatty acid-and retinol-binding proteins (FARs) are unique to nematodes, and are implicated in a wide range of metabolic and parasitic related functions. Along with the in silico analyses performed in this study, three different FAR members of this family were identified in Pratylenchus penetrans. The cDNA corresponding to the fatty acid-and retinol-binding Pp-far-1 gene was cloned and herein characterized at the molecular level for the first time for this genus. The translated 185 amino acid sequence of P. penetrans FAR-1 sequence, with a predicted molecular weight of 20.82 kDa and a pI of 5.49, shares highest sequence identity to FARs of other migratory nematodes of the Pratylenchidae family (90% to P. vulnus and 80% to Radopholus similis). In situ hybridization localizes Pp-far-1 transcripts in the hypodermis of the nematode. RT-qPCR detected Pp-far-1 transcripts for all nematode developmental stages, with highest expression levels found in juveniles, adult females and adult males, respectively. Pp-far-1 is also highly expressed during infection and establishment of P. penetrans in roots of different host plants, such as corn, lily and soybean. The importance of Pp-far-1 was studied by in planta RNA interference (RNAi) assays using stable soybean hairy root lines. Targeting Pp-far-1 decreased expression of the nematode Pp-far-1 and significantly reduced the reproduction of nematodes, with a total of between 44% and 70% fewer nematodes in comparison to the average number of nematodes counted for control lines. The results indicate that suppressing the expression levels of Pp-far-1 can act as an effective target gene to control P. penetrans. ; National Institute of Food and Agriculture, US Department of AgricultureUnited States Department of Agriculture (USDA) [11588909] ; The authors acknowledge the technical assistance of Sarah Shih. This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture, under award number 11588909. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture. ; Public domain authored by a U.S. government employee

En esta investigación se determinó el efecto de la suplementación de vitamina A y Zinc como programa de intervención nutricional en 80 días de tratamiento, seleccionados aleatoriamente cuatro grupos de niños entre 7 y 12 años de edad cursantes de la Escuela Bolivariana Catatumbo. Al grupo Nro. 1 se le suministró vitamina A + Sulfato de Zinc; al grupo Nro. 2 sólo vitamina A; al grupo Nro. 3 sólo Sulfato de Zinc, y el grupo Nro. 4, control. Se les realizó antes y después una evaluación clínica, antropométrica, bioquímica y dietética. Fueron colectados 5 ml de sangre periférica para determinar Retinol sérico por cromatografía liquida de alta presión (HPLC), y espectrometría de absorción atómica en llama para Zinc sérico. Encontrándose un incremento de los niveles de Retinol sérico posterior a la suplementación en el grupo Nro. 1, con un promedio antes de la suplementación de 33,45 ± 9,28 μg/dl, y de 35,07 ± 5,92 μg/ dl después de la suplementación, y en el grupo Nro. 2, con valores promedio de 4,73 ± 12,03 μg/dl antes de la suplementación, y de 4,86 ± 12,43 μg/dl posterior a la suplementación se encontraron por debajo del punto de corte (˂0,72 μg/dl). Estos resultados disminuyeron sus valores de inicios en los grupos Nro. 1 y 2, excepto en el grupo Nro. 3. Se recomienda implementar políticas de intervención nutricional que incluyan el componente educativo y nutricional, fomentando así el aumento del consumo de alimentos de fuente de Zinc y fuente de proteína animal.

In sub-Saharan Africa, more than 40% of children under five years of age suffer from vitamin A deficiency. Among several interventions in place to address vitamin A deficiency is biofortification, breeding vitamin A into key staple crops. Staple crops biofortified with beta-carotene, the precursor to vitamin A, are orange in color. Given the natural occurrence of high levels of beta-carotene in many sweet potato varieties, breeding progress for biofortified orange sweet potato (OSP) has been much faster than for the other vitamin A enhanced staples. Nearly 3 million households have been reached with OSP. This paper reviews key factors influencing the uptake of OSP, the breeding investment, five key delivery approaches that have been tested in the region and efforts to broaden government and other stakeholder engagement.

The relationship between vitamin A, retinol activity, and eye health has been briefly elucidated. Based on certain reports, vitamin A and retinol activity can help overcome vitamin A insufficiency i.e., xerophthalmia. The present review assesses vitamin A sources, β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin in vitamin A metabolism, retinol and xerophthalmia, and new application of vitamin A in mitigating xerophthalmia. Vitamin A and its precursors are sensitive, and could lose their biological activity when exposed to light or oxygen. In this context, encapsulation may act as a protection strategy for enhancing vitamin A's biological functions under adverse conditions. With the belief that vitamin A and retinol activity have a long-term association with xerophthalmia, the present review discusses the relationship between vitamin A consumption and its precursors, as well as the physiological effects of vitamin A on xerophthalmia. In conclusion, further research using free and encapsulated forms of vitamin A to prevent vitamin A deficiency and manage xerophthalmia should be emphasised.