Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Gilma Olaya Vega
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia
Keynote: Nutrient composition and mercury concentration in breast milk from lactating women living in post-conflict area in Colombia
Time : 10:00-10:50
Biography:
Abstract:
Mercury concentration in breast milk (BM) is a concern in areas of gold mines, because of environmental risk and food consumption.
Objective: To identify BM nutrient composition and mercury concentration in a sample of BM from lactating women in post-conflict area in Colombia.
Methods: Information of socio-economic status was recorded. BM samples collected using marmet technique, analysed for energy and macronutrients using MIRIS (BM) analyser, mercury concentration quantified using atomic fluorescence spectrometry. Mother’s weight and height were measured. BMI was calculated; food and nutrient intakes were analysed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and a 24-hour recall.
Results: BM samples from 13 lactating women aged 28 (±5.9) in 100ml report 74 (±11.0)kcal, protein 0.9 (±0.4)g, fat 4.3 (±1.3)g and carbohydrates 7.8 (± 0.6) g. Mercury concentration was 0.58 (± 0.1). 53.8% were overweight, 15.4% obese. Mothers consumed mostly fast food, sugary drinks and low dairy products, fruits and vegetables consumption. A significant positive correlation was found between mother´s BMI and fat content in breast milk (r= 0.583, p=0.05). There was no correlation between mother’s food consumption and mercury levels.
Conclusion: Fat content in BM was correlated with mother´s BMI in lactating women with high prevalence of overweight and mercury concentration in BM was not associated with mother´s food consumption.
Keynote Forum
Jessica Williams
Cardiff University, UK
Keynote: Omega-6 poly unsaturated fatty acid; Di-hommo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA), reduces atherosclerosis in an in vivo murine model
Time : 11:10-12:00
Biography:
Abstract:
Omega-6 poly unsaturated fatty acids have caused great controversy in terms of cardiovascular health. However, some have been shown as anti-inflammatory, but their role in atherosclerosis is poorly understood. In this study, we have investigated the impact of DGLA, found in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, on atherosclerosis progression in vivo. Our previous in vitro studies have shown that DGLA attenuates several pro-atherogenic cellular processes. Studies have moved in vivo, where the impact of DGLA supplementation was determined on cholesterol, triglyceride and organ/body weight in LDLR mice fed a High Fat Diet (HFD). The presence of atherosclerotic plaque was determined in these animals, along with plaque size, lipid content and inflammatory make-up. Whether DGLA supplementation impacted on key atherosclerosis gene expression in the liver was also investigated. 8-week-old, male LDLR mice were fed a HFD DGLA (500mg/kg) for 12 weeks. Plasma samples were analyzed for lipid and lipoprotein levels. Aortic root sections were histologically analyzed to determine plaque presence, size and lipid content. Immunofluorescence was used to further identify plaque inflammatory status. Atherosclerosis PCR arrays were used to determine gene expression from liver samples. Despite no changes in plasma cholesterol levels, DGLA supplementation decreased plaque occlusion and lipid content. Macrophages, smooth muscle cells and T-cells were also decreased in these plaques. In animals fed HFD DGLA, the expression of 5 genes were significantly increased and expression of 20 genes were significantly decreased. These data demonstrate the anti-inflammatory actions of DGLA that can be exploited for the treatment/prevention of atherosclerosis.
Keynote Forum
Farouk Kamel El-Baz
National Research Centre, Egypt
Keynote: Microalgae as a source of cosmetic products
Time : 12:00-12:50
Biography:
Abstract:
Dunaliella salina and Haematococcus pluvialis are listed as having no toxin. Dunaliella salina and Haematococcus pluvialis have long been known as the richest source of β-carotene and astaxanthin. They are currently cultivated commercially in several countries in the world. The main functions of both strains are antioxidant, antiaging. They can be used as nutrition supplement and natural ingredients for cosmetics. This makes them an important product for protecting and refreshing sensitive skin one. Many cosmetics products are appeared in the global market based on both strains. Haematococcus pluvialis is an organism that can produce the highest amount of astaxanthin which is often called the king of antioxidant, photoprotectant.
- Pediatric Food Allergy | Nutraceuticals for Cardiovascular Health | Malnutrition in Children | Pediatric Disorder | Marine Nutraceuticals | Pharmacognosy & Phytochemistry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Chair
Jessica Williams
Cardiff University, UK
Session Introduction
Naoko Okishima
Matsumoto University, Japan
Title: Pack cooking helps the patients who have food allergy at the time of disaster
Biography:
Abstract:
The huge disaster like as the Great East Japan Earthquake destroyed essential utilities and a lot of people were forced to live in shelters after evacuation. They have to stay at the temporary shelters for a while and have to take ration foods for regugees until they leave there. However, the refugees with food allergy can not eat rations because no allergen-free foods are supplied. According to the reports, the caregivers of children with food allergies were confronted with difficulties to get allergen-free foods during the evacuation life after the Great East Japan Earthquake and about 5% food allergic children developed the allergic symptoms by the accidental ingestions of foods including the allergens. The ration foods without the allergens were developed after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, however, they are insufficient to cope with the entire food allergens.
After the Great East Japan Earthquake, the pack cooking have been focused in Japan. That is to say, ingredients are packed in a heat resistance polyethylene bag tie the bag tightly, and boil the bag by a portable gas stove. The pack cooking needs less water, namely the water for boiling the bags can be used repeatedly and the cooked foods are able to eat directry without plates. Since kinds of menu are varied in each bag, the pack cooking is convenient to make some kinds of food in one pot. Thus these features of the pack cooking make the technique useful to help refugees with food allergy. Moreover, it can also help infants and old persons who need soft food.
From these backgrounds, we investigated whether the pack cooking was available for preparing the allergen-free foods. Firstly, the recipes of pack cooking without 7 specified raw materials for food allergy in Japan eggs, milk, wheat, peanuts, buckwheat, shrimps and crabs were designed. Secondary, the safty of the pack cooking was assessed. To estimate the contamination of the allergens while boiling, an allergen-free bag were boiled with bags contained 7 food allergens. Amount of the transfered allergens from the bags contained allergens to the allergen-free bag were estimated by ELISA. When the allergens were detected in the allergen-free bag the water to boil the packs were concentrated and measured allergens by ELISA. No allergens were detected in the water for boiling the pack, even though the trace amount of allergens were detected from the cooked foods. Chances of allergen contamination in boilng step were extremely low.
From these results, the pack cooking is a good method to cook individual food for food allergen patients at the time of disaster.
Farouk Kamel El-Baz
National Research Centre, Egypt
Title: Growing microalgae Dunaliella salina using photo bio reactor for bioactive compounds
Biography:
Abstract:
A series of scientific studies were carried out for the production of biodiesel from microalgae isolated from the Egyptian flora. In addition to biofuel production from algae, pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics products are also produced. This makes the process more economically feasible. The advanced techniques of cultivation of algae allowed the microalgae to be started to present themselves as novel sources of pharmaceutical compounds. The accumulation of β-carotene by Dunaliella salina under suitable growth conditions has led to its potent antioxidant effect. Moreover, D. salina showed antidiabetic activity against Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats as well as neuromodulating effect against the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The results showed that D. salina is a rich source of carotenoid particularly β-carotene (10.89–15.2). D. salina powder (50 mg/kg) and D.salina extract (25mg/kg) revealed a hepatoprotective and treatment efficacy against fibrosis via ameliorating the elevation of liver enzymes and fibrotic markers induced by Thioacetamide (TAA) in rats. Preparation a pharmaceutical product from D. salina extract for tropical application to treat wrinkles and skin aging was formulated. New products compounds were submitted for registration through Industrial Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA). Global microalgae market segments and potential were presented.
Gilma Olaya Vega
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia
Title: Malnutrition in Colombian and Venezuelan hospitalized children under five years of age
Biography:
Abstract:
Introduction: Malnutrition in hospitalized children could be undetected with negative effects on health recovery, growth, length of stay and costs.
Objective: To identify nutritional status in Colombian and Venezuelan hospitalized children <5 years of age.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with a convenience sample admitted at the hospital UEM in Cucuta, Colombia. Socio-demographic variables was recorded in a questionnaire, nutritional assessment was performed using anthropometric measurements (weight, length/height, head circumference and mid upper arm circumference). Food consumption was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and physical examination to identify edema.
Analysis: Data is presented as mean (standard deviations), proportions and chi square (significance p<0.05).
Results: Sample size was 99 children, 45% Venezuelan migrant children and 55% Colombian children, 54.5% girls, and 45.5% boys. 19.2% were infants <6mo, infants, 56.6% infants 6 to 24 months and 24.2% children from 2 to 5 years of age. Undernutrition was common 20.2% (20/99) suffer severe acute malnutrition (13.1% suffer Kwashiorkor, 6.1 marasmus and 1.1% kwashiorkor-marasmus). 10.1% moderate acute malnutrition, and 34.3% were stunting (height-length for age <2SD). The highest prevalence of severe acute malnutrition 13.1% (13/99), p<0.05 and stunting 19%,(p<0.002) was in Venezuelan children. The main cause of hospitalization was respiratory infection in infants <24mo and gastrointestinal infections in children 2 to 5 years of age. There was lower consumption with statistical significant difference of milk diary products (p=0.01), meat (p=0.02), fruits (p=0.007) and vegetables (p=0.01) in Venezuelan children.
Conclusion: Severe and moderate acute malnutrition was common situation that needs further investigation.
Biography:
Abstract:
Yee-Hung Chan
Cardiff University, UK
Title: Anti-atherogenic effects of (+)-catechin: A promising nutraceutical candidate
Biography:
Abstract:
(+)-Catechin, a naturally-occurring flavanol, has demonstrated multiple anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory properties in our previous studies using human monocytes/macrophages, and in a short-term pilot study using wild-type mice fed High-Fat Diet (HFD). However, key questions yet to be answered are; does this anti-atherogenic activity expand to other key cell types implicated in data show that (+)-catechin significantly attenuates reactive oxygen species production in HUVECs and HASMCs, inhibits HASMC migration, and has beneficial effects on HUVEC mitochondrial bioenergetic profile. Additionally, (+)-catechin feeding reduces fat pad weights, plasma triglyceride levels and aortic sinus plaque size. Pending further outcomes (and later, regression studies, to see if (+)-catechin can stimulate regression of existing plaques), the disease, and can (+)-catechin attenuate disease progression and stimulate its regression in vivo in a model system of atherosclerosis? Firstly, to determine whether (+)-catechin can attenuate endothelial dysfunction, key associated parameters are being studied using Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) in a range of assays. To investigate the effect of (+)-catechin on vascular smooth muscle cell migration, Human Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells (HASMCs) were used to recapitulate migration in vitro, via a modified Boyden chamber method. Secondly, to determine whether (+)-catechin can attenuate atherogenesis and promote plaque stabilisation, low-density lipoprotein receptor knock-out (LDLr-/-) mice were fed HFD supplemented with (+)-catechin for 12 weeks; Various tissues/organs were harvested to analyse the resulting plaque and disease risk factors. These data will form a solid basis for progression onto human studies in future, opening up alternative avenues for the prevention/treatment of atherosclerosis.
Anubhuti Sharma
Indian Council of Agricultural Research, India
Title: The influence of mutations on the nutritional value of Rapeseed Meal (RSM)
Biography:
Abstract:
Background: Members of family cruciferae contain many health promoting and potentially protective phytochemicals including folic acid, phenolics, sinapines, carotenoids, selenium, glucosinolates, and ascorbic acids. However, presence of antinutrients e.g. glucosinolates remains a limiting factor for the use of rape seed meal (RSM) as animal feed. Mutation breeding method is rapid, potential and valuable tool to create genetic variability for various quantitative and qualitative characters in crop plants. Induced mutations are produced by the use of mutagenic agents like physical mutagens (x-rays, Gamma rays etc.) and chemical mutagens (alkylating agents, base analogues etc.). However gamma rays act on genetic material by ionization leading to more of chromosomal rather than point mutations and gamma rays are successfully used in plant breeding program because of its simple application, good penetration, reproducibility and high mutation frequency and less disposal problems.
Objectives: Two Indian mustard varieties were studied for biochemical analysis to explore the potential mutations (Physical and chemical) for raising confidence in using oilseed meal in monogastric diets. This study will focus on the variability of RSM biochemical composition and the influences of mutation on this and major phytochemicals.
Methods: PM-21 & PM-30 were selected to study maximum diversity on oil content, whole-seed glucosinolate content, phytic acid, nutritional factors after the physical after gamma irradiation and EMS treatment. Seeds were grinded and defatted by hexane treatment to prepare seed meal samples. Biochemical characterization was carried out using standard laboratory methodologies for linoleic acid, oleic acid, MUFA, PUFA, total protein, total glucosinolate content, aliphatic glucosinolates, phytic acid, B-carotene and sinapine. A qualitative analysis & quantitative analysis by standard chemical protocol of secondary metabolites in the seeds of rapeseed mustard have been studied. Free and esterified phenolic acids of rapeseed were extracted with petroleum ether and determined by HPLC.
Results: Oil stability index which is the ratio of MUFA: PUFA ranged from 1.34 to 0.56. Total protein content ranged from 30.33 g/100g to 34.84 g/100g. Glucosinolate content averaged 20.4μmol/g with an overall range (21.43-38.6μmol/g). Variation in glucosinolate content among genotypes, also suggest differences in their health promoting properties and the opportunity for enhancement of their levels through genetic manipulation (Kushad et al., 1999). The lower sinigrin content (>15 µmole/g) were also recorded in PM-21. However perusal of glucosinolate and sinigrin data clearly indicates the positive significant relationship between total glucosinolate and sinigrin content. Phytic acid averaged 2.83 g/100g and varied less (1.32-3.78 g/100g). β-carotene content ranged from 4.00 to 6.00 ppm. Sinapine averaged at 8.68 mg/g (5.33-10.21 mg/g). HPLC analysis showed that p-hydroxy benzoic and sinapic acid are the most common phenolics present in almost all the varieties. Other phenolic acids such as caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid and vanillic acid were also present in some genotypes in detectable amount.
Conclusion: Biochemical levels of all above studied parameters come closely to the published values for rapeseed meal and show comparatively little variation. β-carotene, phytic acid and sinapine values were generally low with little potential for variety improvement of the cultivars. However the major cause of glucosinolate content variability is genetically controlled and therefore the RSM levels can be improved by controlling the standard set for varietal releases. Revalidation of work is under progress.
Levi Ezequiel de Oliveira
Abepoli Institute, Brazil
Title: The impact nutragenetics versus the central dogma of molecular biology
Biography:
Abstract:
Nutrigenetics, which is ruled by epigenetic mechanisms, specifically studies the modifying effects of inheritance. At the molecular level, what happens is that DNA sequence can be expressed or silenced by epigenetic information, which is directly influenced by environmental conditions. This information system (DNA sequence) is used by the organisms as described by the central dogma of molecular Biology stated by James Watson, co-discoverer of the DNA structure in 1959. This hypothesis predicts that information flows in a single direction from our DNA sequence to RNA through a process called transcription and from RNA to proteins through a process called translation. However, there is another layer of information beyond DNA sequence. From the decade of 1970, a new set of research in genetics gathered in a branch of science called epigenetics (beyond genetic) showed solid evidences that the phenotype is not controlled only by DNA sequence. Environmental conditions will also influence the phenotype by determining regions of DNA sequence that needs to be silenced or expressed. So, there are two types of information that will be used to build a protein. One is the DNA sequence itself and the other will determine what part of DNA sequence will be used by the cell. The influence of epigenetic mechanism is so profound that it can even alters the DNA sequence, since methylation is mutagenic. Methylated cytosine is prone to deamination to thymine. CpG dinucleotides are under-represented in vertebrate genomes. Moreover, the different amount of CpG among organisms shows a solid evidence that methylation also plays an important role in evolution. The difference between the mutagenic effect of methylation and the other types of mutation, which are random is that the methylation tends to be directional and influenced by environmental conditions.