Knowledge and attitudes about vitamin A consumption and its relationship with night blindness in university students.

Introduction: Night blindness is the first sign of vitamin A deficiency (VAD), which can lead to blindness if left untreated. University students may be at risk of VAD-related night blindness due to unhealthy eating attitudes and inadequate vitamin A intake. This study aimed to determine the relationship between knowledge and attitudes toward vitamin A consumption affecting night blindness in university students. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 409 third-year university students of Universitas Islam Sultan Agung, Semarang, Indonesia. Participants completed questionnaires about socio-demographics, their knowledge of vitamin A, and attitudes toward vitamin A consumption. Night blindness symptoms among university students were assessed using the Low Luminance Questionnaire (LLQ), followed by a bivariate analysis of the Chi-Square test. Multivariate binary logistic regressions were used to determine whether the independent variables were associated with night blindness. A p-value less than 0.05 indicated significance. Results: The prevalence of high-symptom night blindness was higher among males (26.4%) than females (5.7%). Out of 409 university students, 48 from the non-medicine cluster of the study program had a night blindness symptom. The prevalence was lower in students who studied in the medicine cluster program. The level of knowledge on vitamin A had a significant relationship with symptoms of night blindness [prevalence ratio (PR) = 2.239 (95% CI = 1.110-4.516)]. The attitudes toward vitamin A consumption were significantly associated with night blindness (PR = 2.560, 95% CI = 1.215-5.392). Discussion: The results of this study show that the risk of night blindness in university students can be prevented by increasing their knowledge and attitudes toward consuming vitamin A-rich food. The university can provide health promotion and vitamin A supplementation to avoid night blindness among academia.

Utilization of Biang Fish Flour (Ilisha elongata) as an Enrichment Material for Sago Noodles Nutrient Value.

This study aims to determine the appropriate concentration of lead fish meal for enriching the nutritional value of sago noodles favored by consumers. The method used is an experimental design using Completely Randomized (CRD) with 4 concentration levels of lead fish meal, namely, 4% without a lead fish meal (M0), 6% (M1), 8% (M2), and 10% (M3). The analysis of sago noodles was performed and proximate by the AOAC method; amino acids by HPLC; fatty acids by GC; and minerals by HPLC. The results of the showed that the study getting the best treatment was a concentration of 8% (M2) with the characteristics of whole sago noodles' appearance: attractive, grayish-white color; a distinctive aroma of sago noodles with a hint of fish; a specific taste typical of sago noodles and fish prickly taste; delicious; slightly chewy texture. Sensory evaluation with a taste value of 8.9, an aroma of 8.6, a visual value of 8.9, and a texture value of 8.8. Its nutritional content is 5.58% protein content, air 22.35%, ash 1.69%, fat 1.41%, and carbohydrates 68.29%. The proximate values are protein 5.58%, water content 22.35%, ash 1.69%, fat content 1.41%, and carbohydrates (different) 68.29%. The mineral content is Ca.P.I, Mg, Zn, and Fe. Amino acids consist of 8 types of essential amino acids, namely, histidine, arginine, threonine, valine, alanine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, and 7 types of nonessential amino acids, namely, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, glycine, tyrosine. Its fatty acid profile has 13 components of unsaturated fatty acids and 17 components of saturated fatty acids.

Risk characterisation of constituents present in jamu to promote its safe use.

Safety in use of jamu consumption, as part of traditional medicine from Indonesia, is dependent on the complete and adequate assessment of potential hazards and risks of the botanicals and botanical constituents included. This includes especially hazards and risks related to the presence in jamu of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) as well as of constituents that are genotoxic and carcinogenic. The present review presents an overview of the current state-of-the art on these hazards and risks based on case reports on adulteration, and the actual detection of genotoxic and carcinogenic ingredients of concern in jamu. Based on the overview thus obtained, it appears that drug-adulteration presents important hazards responsible for potential adverse effects, due to overdosing. The potential hazards of exposure to APIs mainly relate to the presence of constituents that may cause liver damage, renal impairment, kidney failure, steroid dependence or genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. For these APIs, a risk characterisation was performed based on comparison of health-based guidance values (HBGVs) and exposure, while for the genotoxic carcinogens the margin of exposure (MOE) approach was used. Results of this risk characterisation should be used by risk managers to impose specification for constituents of health concern to protect consumers. It is concluded that to manage the risks identified and further improve the safety in use of jamu, a collaboration between farmers, manufacturer/producers, academia, government, health professionals, and consumers is indicated.

Monocrotaline-induced liver toxicity in rat predicted by a combined in vitro physiologically based kinetic modeling approach.

The aim of the present study was to use an in vitro-in silico approach to predict the in vivo acute liver toxicity of monocrotaline and to characterize the influence of its metabolism on its relative toxic potency compared to lasiocarpine and riddelliine. In the absence of data on acute liver toxicity of monocrotaline upon oral exposure, the predicted dose-response curve for acute liver toxicity in rats and the resulting benchmark dose lower and upper confidence limits for 10% effect (BMDL10 and BMDU10) were compared to data obtained in studies with intraperitoneal or subcutaneous dosing regimens. This indicated the predicted BMDL10 value to be in line with the no-observed-adverse-effect levels (NOAELs) derived from availabe in vivo studies. The predicted BMDL10-BMDU10 of 1.1-4.9 mg/kg bw/day also matched the oral dose range of 1-3 mg PA/kg bw/day at which adverse effects in human are reported. A comparison to the oral toxicity of the related pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) lasiocarpine and riddelliine revealed that, although in the rat hepatocytes monocrotaline was less toxic than lasiocarpine and riddelliine, due to its relatively inefficient clearance, its in vivo acute liver toxicity was predicted to be comparable. It is concluded that the combined in vitro-PBK modeling approach can provide insight in monocrotaline-induced acute liver toxicity in rats, thereby filling existing gaps in the database on PA toxicity. Furthermore, the results reveal that the kinetic and metabolic properties of PAs can vary substantially and should be taken into account when considering differences in relative potency between different PAs.

Detection of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in jamu available on the Indonesian market and accompanying safety assessment for human consumption.

The occurrence and accompanying risks of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in Indonesian jamu were evaluated. PAs were detected in 34 out of 35 jamu containing PA-producing botanicals, in the range of 12.3-235,376 µg/kg. A total PA level of 5.9-3,421 µg/kg was found in 17 out of 23 jamu made of non-PA-producing botanicals pointing to contamination with PA-producing plants. Short-time consumption of jamu is unlikely to result in acute toxic effects, although one sample would exceed an intake of 10 µg PA/kg bw/day which may cause hepatic veno-occlusive disease (HVOD) in humans. The risk assessment for the genotoxic and carcinogenic potential of PAs revealed Margin of Exposure (MOE) values below 10,000 for 27 out of all samples analysed (46.6%), indicating a priority for risk management when assuming daily lifelong consumption. Assuming consumption for two weeks every year during a lifetime, and using Haber's rule, 13 out of 35 jamu samples containing PA-producing botanicals (37%) still pose a priority, while the jamu consisting of non-PA-producing botanicals would be of low priority (MOE>10,000). This study provides data that can support risk management actions in Indonesia to minimize the potential health risk for jamu consumers due to the occurrence of toxic PAs in these products.

Combining In Vitro Data and Physiologically Based Kinetic Modeling Facilitates Reverse Dosimetry to Define In Vivo Dose-Response Curves for Bixin- and Crocetin-Induced Activation of PPARγ in Humans.

SCOPE: It is investigated whether at realistic dietary intake bixin and crocetin could induce peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ)-mediated gene expression in humans using a combined in vitro-in silico approach. METHODS AND RESULTS: Concentration-response curves obtained from in vitro PPARγ-reporter gene assays are converted to in vivo dose-response curves using physiologically based kinetic modeling-facilitated reverse dosimetry, from which the benchmark dose levels resulting in a 50% effect above background level (BMD50 ) are predicted and subsequently compared to dietary exposure levels. Bixin and crocetin activated PPARγ-mediated gene transcription in a concentration-dependent manner with similar potencies. Due to differences in kinetics, the predicted BMD50 values for in vivo PPARγ activation are about 30-fold different, amounting to 115 and 3505 mg kg bw-1 for crocetin and bixin, respectively. Human dietary and/or supplemental estimated daily intakes may reach these BMD50 values for crocetin but not for bixin, pointing at better possibilities for in vivo PPARγ activation by crocetin. CONCLUSION: Based on a combined in vitro-in silico approach, it is estimated whether at realistic dietary intakes plasma concentrations of bixin and crocetin are likely to reach concentrations that activate PPARγ-mediated gene expression, without the need for a human intervention study.

Levels of methyleugenol and eugenol in instant herbal beverages available on the Indonesian market and related risk assessment.

The presence and accompanying risks of methyleugenol and eugenol in herbal beverages available on the Indonesian market were evaluated. Methyleugenol was detected in 49 out of 114 samples, at levels amounting to 2.6-443.7 µg/g, while 4 samples contained eugenol at 21.4-101.2 µg/g. The EDI resulting from drinking these preparations amounted to 0.1-51.2 µg/kg bw/day and 1.1-3.3 µg/kg bw/day, respectively for samples targeted at adults and children. A BMDL10 value of 22.2 mg/kg bw/day for methyleugenol was defined using literature data and model averaging. MOE values were below 10,000 for 46 samples (40.4%), indicating a priority for risk management when assuming daily lifelong consumption, while the EDI for 4 samples containing eugenol did not exceed the ADI of 2.5 mg/kg bw thus did not raise a concern for human health. Using Haber's rule to correct for less than lifetime exposure, consumption of methyleugenol via these beverages would be of low concern when consumed for less than 2 weeks/year during a lifetime. This conclusion holds for herbal beverages collected by targeted sampling, not for all herbal beverages on the Indonesian market. The study provides data that can support establishment of a maximum permitted level (MPL) for methyleugenol in herbal beverages in Indonesia.

Natural occurrence of genotoxic and carcinogenic alkenylbenzenes in Indonesian jamu and evaluation of consumer risks.

The consumer risks of jamu, Indonesian traditional herbal medicines, was assessed focussing on the presence of alkenylbenzene containing botanical ingredients. Twenty-three out of 25 samples contained alkenylbenzenes at levels ranging from 3.8 to 440 µg/kg, with methyleugenol being the most frequently encountered alkenylbenzene. The estimated daily intake (EDI) resulting from jamu consumption was estimated to amount to 0.2-171 µg/kg bw/day for individual alkenylbenzenes, to 0.9-203 µg/kg bw/day when adding up all alkenylbenzenes detected, and to 0.9-551 µg/kg bw/day when expressed in methyleugenol equivalents using interim relative potency (REP) factors. The margin of exposure (MOE) values obtained were generally <10,000 indicating a priority for risk management when assuming daily consumption during a lifetime. Using Haber's rule it was estimated that two weeks consumption of these jamu only once would not raise a concern (MOE >10,000). However, when considering use for two weeks every year during a lifetime, 5 samples still raise a concern. It is concluded that the consumption of alkenylbenzene containing jamu can be of concern especially when consumed on a daily basis for longer periods of time on a regular basis.

Comparisons of Curative Effects of Chlorophyll from Sauropus androgynus (L) Merr Leaf Extract and Cu-Chlorophyllin on Sodium Nitrate-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rats.

Sodium nitrate (NaNO2) widely used as food additive for coloring and preserving meat has been reported to induce oxidative stress and cause histopathologic changes, nitrosative tissue damage, and lipid peroxidation in liver and kidney. Therefore, the present study compared the curative effect of chlorophyll from Sauropus androgynus (L) Merr and Cu-chlorophyllin as antioxidant in NaNO2-induced female Wistar rats based on haematological, serum biochemical, and histological evaluation. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into six groups of five rats each. NaNO2 were given at a subacute dose of 50 mg/kg bw intraperitoneally for 10 days. Chlorophyll from S. androgynus and Cu-chlorophyllin from K-Liquid™ were given in the following 14 days at the two doses: 0,016 mg/mL and 0.008 mg/mL. NaNO2 exposure resulted in significant reductions (p < 0.05) in values of packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) concentration and red blood cell (RBC) count, transferrin, and ferritin and elevation in malondialdehyde (MDA) level and schistocytes percentage with insignificant reductions in serum albumin and transferrin levels. Histology of kidney and liver were changed insignificantly (p > 0.05) to normal values. Chlorophyll from S. androgynus and Cu-chlorophyllin possess antioxidant potentials to protect against toxicities induced by sodium nitrate.