Glycemic Response in Diabetic Subjects to Biscuits Produced from Blends of Pigeon Pea and Wheat Flour.

This study evaluated the glycemic response to pigeon pea (PP) - wheat flour (WF) composite biscuits by diabetic patients. Biscuits were produced from flour made from the mixture of WF and PP flour in the proportion of 100:0 (100 - PP), 75:25 (75-PP), 50:50 (50-PP), 25:75 (25-PP), and 0:100 (WF), 4.5% ginger was used as flavor. Sensory evaluation revealed that 100-PP (6.54 ± 0.05) had highest acceptability and palatability attributes (p < 0.05). Glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) of the biscuits ranged from 100 - PP (41.36 ± 0.30) to CAB (79.89 ± 1.00) and 100-PP (10.57 ± 0.01) to CAB (30.70 ± 0.40), respectively. All the composite biscuits had low GI < 60 and GL < 20. Composite biscuit may suggest a cheap, adequate and safe supplementary diet for diabetic patients.

Antioxidant status and reproductive hormones in women during reproductive, perimenopausal and postmenopausal phase of life.

BACKGROUND: Reproductive aging resulting in menopause with permanent cessation of ovarian follicular activity. The progressive loss of estrogen and its protective effects, combined with deficient endogenous antioxidant results in oxidative stress. OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of oxidative stress and its relationship with reproductive hormones at various developmental phases of women. METHODS: A total of 186 (65 in Reproductive, 58 in Perimenopausal, and 63 in Postmenopausal phase) participants between the ages of 20-60 years were recruited for the study. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone, estradiol, total antioxidant status (TAS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH); activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels were all determined. RESULTS: FSH, LH and MDA levels were significantly increased during perimenopausal and postmenopausal phases compared to reproductive phase; however, estradiol, progesterone, TAS and GSH levels were significantly decreased during perimenopausal and postmenopausal phases compared to reproductive phase. The erythrocyte activities of GSH-Px, SOD and CAT were significantly decreased during perimenopausal and postmenopausal phases compared to reproductive phase. It was observed that MDA showed positive correlation with LH and FSH while a negative correlation with estradiol and progesterone was observed; whereas, antioxidants showed negative correlation with LH and FSH while a positive correlation with estradiol and progesterone. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that normal perimenopausal and postmenopausal phase are associated with oxidative stress. Therefore it may be of benefit when both phases are being managed in term of hormonal deficit if antioxidant is an adjunct.

Does multiple gestation impact birthweight deficit from smoking?

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the combined birthweight deficit from smoking in twin gestation is significantly greater than previously described for singletons. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of White/Black live-born twins, 32 to 40 weeks of gestation, 1990 to 2005, Kansas City, MO. Data were analyzed by t-test, χ(2), linear and linear regression analyses. RESULT: The cohort comprised 1190 twin pairs, 58% Whites and 55% ≥37 weeks. Smoking rate was 14.5% and similar by race (14.2% White vs 14.8%, P=0.772). The aggregate birthweight of twins of nonsmokers was greater, 5116 g ± 25 g vs 4870 g ± 59 g, P<0.001 (mean±s.d.) and the difference was 264 g (95% confidence interval, 156 to 372 g) after adjusting for other variables in linear regression analyses. CONCLUSION: Smoking-associated growth restriction in twins is quantitatively similar to that of singletons. This finding is suggestive of dissipation or a ceiling effect to the growth-restricting effect of cigarette smoking.

Infants born at <29 weeks: pulmonary outcomes from a hybrid perinatal system.

OBJECTIVE: To assess pulmonary outcomes of infants <29 weeks gestational age (GA), delivered at level I, II and III facilities, to identify potentially modifiable factors affecting bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) severity and to assess the external generalizability of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) BPD Outcome Estimator. STUDY DESIGN: Outcomes for infants <29 weeks GA born during (2008-2010) and delivered either at an inborn level III center or in a level II or III metropolitan area hospital with transfer to a level IV center, or delivered in a distant level I or II center and then transported to a level IV center were assessed. BPD severity was compared with the NICHD Neonatal BPD Outcome Estimator. RESULT: Of 158 infants who comprised the cohort, 28 (17.8%) had no BPD, 39 (24.2%) had mild BPD, 45 (28.7%) had moderate BPD, 31 (19.7%) had severe BPD and 15 (9.6%) died at ≤36 weeks post menstrual age. Site of birth did not predict severe BPD or death. Receiver operator characteristic curves showed fair predictability for none/mild and severe BPD. CONCLUSION: BPD severity was not dependent on site of birth. The NICHD BPD outcome estimator provides fair prediction for extreme outcomes.

Effect of salts on the functional properties of benniseed (Sesamum radiatum) seed flour.

The effects of salts, KCl, NaCl, K2SO4, Na2SO4 and CH3COONa on the functional properties of benniseed (Sesamum radiatum) flour were studied. Results showed that the lowest gelation concentration of 18% observed in the absence of the salts was improved and found between 12 and 16% in the presence of different salts under consideration. The foaming capacity of about 18.0% in distilled water increased progressively from 30.5 +/- 1.0 to 56.0 +/- 0.6% depending on the concentrations and types of salts used. At low salts concentrations (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0%) the water absorption capacity decreased between 89.8 +/- 0.5 and 85.0 +/- 0.6% comparably with 182.0% in the absence of salts while the emulsion capacity also decreased between 43.5 +/- 0.2 and 42.0 +/- 0.9% with increase in salt concentrations of 0.5 to 10.0%. The foaming capacity and foaming stability that were 18.0 and 3.0% in the absence of the salts were improved and found within the range of 30.5 +/- 1.0 to 56.0 +/- 0.1% and 14.0 +/- 0.8 to 22.4 +/- 0.1% respectively. The dependence of protein solubility with pH was found to be a function of the type and concentration of salts considered. The curves showed that the solubility of the protein of the flour was found between the pH of 5.0 in the absence of the salt and varied between pH of 2.5 and 7.5 indicating that the protein is soluble in both the acidic and basic regions of pH scale. At high concentration of 5.0 and 10.0% of all the salts used, the solubility was high/enhanced at acidic region of pH, suggesting that the protein may be useful in acid food formulations.

Chemical composition, nutritionally valuable minerals and functional properties of benniseed (Sesamum radiatum), pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides) and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) flours.

The chemical composition, nutritionally valuable minerals and functional properties of benniseed (Sesamum radiatum), pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides) and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) were studied. The results showed that the samples contained crude protein in the range of 11.4 to 22.5% with benniseed having the highest value of 2.5%, and pearl millet with the lowest value 11.4%. Ether extracts fall within the range of 6.3-44.3%. The moisture contents ranged from 5.2 to 11.2% while the ash contents were found to be in the range of 1.2 to 4.1% and the crude fibre ranged between 3.1 and 9.6%. The flours were relatively higher in maltose and D-ribose which were found to be in the range of 1.28-5.08 mg sugar in 5 ml sample. They also have low contents of glucose and fructose which ranged between 0.70 and 1.46 mg sugar in 5 ml sample. The predominant mineral was potassium which varied between 5150 and 7140 mg per kg sample while the samples were significantly low in manganese and copper. The protein solubility of the flours were found to have minimum solubility at pH 5 for benniseed, about pH 6 for pearl millet and quinoa. The seed flours also have good gelation property, water absorption capacity, emulsion capacity and stability. The oil absorption capacity and foaming capacity were low but the foams were relatively stable.

Fatty acid composition of six varieties of dehulled African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) flour.

The proximate and fatty acids compositions of dehulled African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa, Hochst ex A. Rich. Harms) flour were reported. The crude protein values ranged from 20.18 +/- 0.02 to 25.78 +/- 0.05 g/100 g; the ether extract values ranged from 1.93 +/- 0.05 to 10.18 +/- 0.04 g/100 g; crude fibre values ranged from 1.61 +/- 0.02 to 2.38 +/- 0.00 g/100 g; total ash ranged from 2.06 +/- 0.03 to 2.36 +/- 0.05 g/100 g and carbohydrate values ranged from 58.46 +/- 0.04 to 63.34 +/- 0.05 g/100 g. The values of the moisture content ranged from 3.20 +/- 0.03 to 7.10 +/- 0.02 g/100 g. Significant differences were found (P < 0.05) among the samples in the proximate compositions. The most concentrated fatty acids were palmitic acid (18.18 to 19.78%) < linoleic acid (28.33 to 35.16%) < stearic acid (29.01 to 36.71%). Caprylic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitoleic, oleic, eicosenoic and erucic acids were present in small quantities with none of them recording up to 2.00% in any of the samples. However, the values of alpha-linolenic acid ranged from 2.01 to 2.96%. Significant differences were observed in the fatty acid compositions among the African yam bean dehulled seed cultivars.

Functional properties of some varieties of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) flour--III.

The proximate analysis, determination of nutritionally valuable minerals and the functional properties of the seed flour of African yam bean (AYB) (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) were investigated. Three different colour varieties of whole seeds and the dehulled samples from the same source were identified and processed for the study. The average composition of the whole seeds was as follows: 20.50% protein, 8.25% fat, 59.72% total carbohydrate, 3.26% total ash and 8.10% moisture, while the corresponding dehulled samples contained 21.9% protein, 8.63% fat, 60.89% total carbohydrate, 2.20% ash, and 6.35% moisture. The whole seeds were rich in potassium (649.49 mg/100 g) and phosphorus (241.21 mg/100 g) while values for dehulled samples were 471.35 mg/100 mg/100 g and 245.81 mg/100 g respectively. The seed flours have good gelation property, protein solubility varied with pH with high solubilities in acid and alkali. Dehulled samples had lower values for fat absorption capacity and foaming capacity but higher values for water absorption capacity, foaming stability rate change and fat emulsion stability rate change.

Amino acid and fatty acid compositions of Adenopus breviflorus benth seed.

The amino acid and fatty acid contents of Adenopus breviflorus benth seed (locally called egwoli) with and without hull were determined. The results for the amino acid analysis showed that the seed is a good source of most of the essential amino acids and comparable to those of soya bean. The total essential amino acids of the whole seed amounted to 53.7% while that of the dehulled seed is 51.4%. Linoleic acid is the predominant fatty acid with values of 60.7 and 58.8% for whole and dehulled seeds oil respectively. It is observed that the total unsaturated fatty acid is about 80.1% for the whole seeds and 77.2% for the dehulled seeds.