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It has generally been accepted that vitamin E refers to a group of tocochromanols, α-, β-, γ-, and δ-tocopherols and the corresponding four tocotrienols. Recently, Azzi and colleagues proposed to restrict the term vitamin E only to RRR -α-tocopherol, not to other tocopherols and tocotrienols (Azzi A et al. Free Radic Biol Med. 2023; 207:178–180. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.06.029). The aim of this paper is to express our opinion on the nomenclature of vitamin E based on available scientific data. In our opinion, it would be inappropriate to exclude all the tocochromanols other than RRR -α−tocopherol from the vitamin E group at this stage when the molecular mechanisms showing how vitamin E deficiency causes diseases such as ataxia and how vitamin E prevents/reverses such diseases are not elucidated. Understanding of whole functions of tocochromanols including underlying mechanisms and dynamics is essential before revision of currently accepted definition of vitamin E. The potential roles of γ-tocopherol and tocotrienols are discussed despite whether they are vitamin function should be clarified in the future studies. [Display omitted] • Vitamin E family consists of four tocopherols and four tocotrienols, 2R-α-tocopherol being most active. • It was proposed by Azzi to restrict the term vitamin E only to RRR-α-tocopherol. • It would be inappropriate to exclude all the non-(RRR or 2R)-α-tocopherol from the definition of vitamin E. • Understanding whole functions of tocochromanols and underlying mechanisms is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• So far, dietary guidelines have been based on a single-nutrient approach. • The prevention of non-communicable diseases is now based on epidemiological research. • Dietary indications should follow a holistic approach, including consumers' perceptions. Over the past century, dietary recommendations emphasizing food patterns as means to deliver essential nutrients have garnered widespread acceptance. The necessity for foods supplying vital nutrients and energy throughout various life stages requires the involvement of local resources and cultural practices to prevent nutrient deficiency diseases. Since the 1980s, dietary guidelines aimed at adverting chronic diseases have relied on epidemiological research to predict which dietary patterns correlate with reduced risk of chronic disease or links to health outcomes. Dietary guidelines have been broad, typically recommending avoiding excess or deficiency of single nutrients. Efforts to fine-tune these recommendations face challenges due to a scarcity of robust scientific data supporting more specific guidance across the life cycle. Consumers have become skeptical of dietary guidelines, because media coverage of new studies is often in conflict with accepted nutrition dogma. Indications to align individual and planet's health have been issued supporting the concept of sustainable dietary patterns. Whether we really have a science-based databank to support dietary guidelines is still a matter of ongoing debate, as presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood deficiency disease is a common clinical syndrome caused by blood dysfunction and organ malnutrition, which is characterized by low hemoglobin and blood cell counts, leading to symptoms such as generalized weakness and debility. The dried root of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) was the dominating medicinal part in China. The nourishing blood is the key pharmacological effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza in Chinese medicines, which has been recorded in 'ming yi bie lu' and other ancient literatures. The aim of this study was to find potential blood-deficiency improving active compounds in Salvia miltiorrhiza and investigate the molecular mechanism. Chemical components with significant effects on K562 cells were screened by assessing changes in erythroid differentiation extent and cell viability. The mechanisms predicted by network pharmacology of the screened components were experimentally validated via a rat model of blood deficiency disease. The results showed that tanshinone IIA exhibited more significant therapeutic activity for blood deficiency disease than the other components in vitro investigation and network pharmacological analyses. Tanshinone IIA significantly promoted the K562 cell erythroid differentiation and cellular activity. Levels of erythropoietin, erythropoietin receptor, janus kinase 2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 were significantly elevated in spleen tissues of rats treated with tanshinone IIA. Peripheral blood indices, coagulation partial indices, organ indices and spleen morphology also improved considerably. In conclusion, this research indicates that tanshinone IIA, over the other components in Salvia miltiorrhiza extract, might improve blood deficiency by influencing the erythropoietin/erythropoietin receptor-janus kinase 2-signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 signaling pathway. [Display omitted] • Tan IIA improved anemia. • Network pharmacology guided successfully. • JAK2-STAT5 was activated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Maternal copper deficiency induced growth retardation in offspring. • Maternal copper deficiency caused cardiac dysfunction and liver injury in offspring. • Autophagy is activated by copper deficiency in offspring. Maternal nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy result in birth defects and elevate the risk of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic diseases. Accumulating evidence suggests that deficiency of copper, a fundamental trace element involved in several pivotal physiological processes, promotes the onset of multiple diseases, notably heart and liver diseases. Yet, exploration into the effects of maternal copper deficiency (CuD) on offspring is still limited. In this study, we hypothesized that maternal CuD induced cardiomyopathy and liver injury in offspring through the activation of autophagy. We established a maternal CuD mouse model by feeding pregnant C57BL/6 mice with a CuD diet until the end of the experiment. Echocardiography, histological analysis, western blotting, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed on offspring at postnatal day 14. We found that maternal CuD caused growth retardation and early postnatal death in the offspring. Furthermore, our results revealed that CuD induced cardiac systolic dysfunction, cardiac hypertrophy, hepatic steatosis, and liver injury. Moreover, higher expression of LC3 and lower expression of p62 were observed in the heart tissues and liver tissues of CuD mice compared with the control group, indicating that CuD induced autophagy activation. In conclusion, maternal CuD caused severely deleterious effects on the heart and liver of the offspring via activating autophagy. To explore the effect of dietary maternal CuD on offspring, we established an animal model by feeding pregnant mice with a CuD diet. We found that CuD caused cardiac systolic dysfunction and liver injury. Moreover, we presented the increased LC3 and decreased p62 in CuD mouse heart tissues and liver tissues. These results indicate that CuD causes systolic dysfunction and hepatic steatosis in offspring, which is associated with activation of autophagy. Abbreviations: CuA, copper adequate; CuD, copper deficiency. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium (K) is an essential macronutrient for plant development. Although the low-K+-responsive calcium (Ca2+) signaling pathway is known, its regulator remained elusive. Li et al. recently demonstrated that the target of rapamycin complex (TORC) and Ca2+ signaling pathways show reciprocal regulation of K+-responsive growth in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2018, a neurosurgery delegation has been actively engaged and consistently present at the World Health Assembly. Recognizing the growing impact of neurosurgical diseases, the neurosurgery delegation participated in the 76th World Health Assembly in May 2023, advocating for timely, safe, and affordable global neurosurgical care. The delegation focused on forging new collaborations, strengthening the World Health Organization-World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies official relations, and actively supporting resolutions that impact the neurosurgical patients. However, there is a long advocacy journey ahead to address unmet neurosurgical needs. Patient-centered advocacy is an inherent task of our profession and the essence of the Global Neurosurgery Bogota Declaration of 2016. The highlight of the 76th World Health Assembly was the adoption of the first neurosurgery-driven resolution calling for micronutrient fortification to prevent spina bifida and other micronutrient deficiencies. For the last 4 years, the Global Alliance for Prevention of Spina Bifida, a group spearheaded by neurosurgeons, advocated for spina bifida prevention. This Alliance collaborated with many stakeholders, notably, the Colombian government to promote the resolution: "Accelerating efforts for preventing micronutrient deficiencies and their consequences, including spina bifida and other neural tube defects, through safe and effective food fortification." This is a proud milestone for the neurosurgical profession. There are many strategies available for neurosurgeons, when working together with elected leaders, other stakeholders, and allied professionals, to implement initiatives that can prevent future cases of spina bifida and other neurological disorders and reduce the burden of neurosurgical disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutualistic associations between early land plants and soil fungi played a crucial role in their adaptation to nutrient-poor soils, facilitating their survival and growth. The responses of plants to phosphate and nitrogen starvation involve complex nutrient signaling pathways and interactions with plant immunity, which in turn influence the degree of fungal colonization. The transport systems of both host plants and fungal partners are essential for efficient nutrient uptake and the maintenance of symbiotic relationships. Fungal partners exhibit variable responses to external nutrient levels and forms, leading to changes in the dynamics of symbiotic interactions. Evolutionarily younger or unique root–fungus associations also contribute significantly to plant nutrient acquisition, expanding the range of mutualistic strategies used by plants. Establishing mutualistic relationships between plants and fungi is crucial for overcoming nutrient deficiencies in plants. This review highlights the intricate nutrient sensing and uptake mechanisms used by plants in response to phosphate and nitrogen starvation, as well as their interactions with plant immunity. The coordination of transport systems in both host plants and fungal partners ensures efficient nutrient uptake and assimilation, contributing to the long-term maintenance of these mutualistic associations. It is also essential to understand the distinct responses of fungal partners to external nutrient levels and forms, as they significantly impact the outcomes of symbiotic interactions. Our review also highlights the importance of evolutionarily younger and newly discovered root–fungus associations, such as endophytic associations, which offer potential benefits for improving plant nutrition. Mechanistic insights into the complex dynamics of phosphorus and nitrogen sensing within diverse root–fungus associations can facilitate the identification of molecular targets for engineering symbiotic systems and developing plant phenotypes with enhanced nutrient use efficiency. Ultimately, this knowledge can inform tailored fertilizer management practices to optimize plant nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We studied saccade performance to study the underlying basal ganglia (BG) pathophysiology in Segawa's disease (SD). • We found a mild delay in latency of memory guided saccades and impairment to suppress reflexive saccades in SD. • Dopamine deficiency manifests in oculomotor abnormalities during development with delayed maturation especially in male patients. Objective: To investigate the oculomotor manifestations of Segawa disease (SD), considered to represent mild dopamine deficiency and discuss their pathophysiological basis. Methods: We recorded visually- (VGS) and memory-guided saccade (MGS) tasks in 31 SD patients and 153 age-matched control subjects to study how basal ganglia (BG) dysfunction in SD evolves with age for male and female subjects. Results: SD patients were impaired in initiating MGS, showing longer latencies with occasional failure. Patients showed impaired ability to suppress reflexive saccades; saccades to cues presented in MGS were more frequent and showed a shorter latency than in control subjects. These findings were more prominent in male patients, particularly between 13 and 25 years. Additionally, male patients showed larger delay in MGS latency in trials preceded by saccades to cue than those unpreceded. Conclusions: The findings can be explained by a dysfunction of the BG-direct pathway impinging on superior colliculus (SC) due to dopamine deficiency. The disturbed inhibitory control of saccades may be explained by increased SC responsivity to visual stimuli. Significance: Oculomotor abnormalities in SD can be explained by dysfunction of the BG inhibitory pathways reaching SC, with a delayed maturation in male SD patients, consistent with previous pathological/physiological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous operation of a biotrickling filter (BTF) is difficult to guarantee in industrial applications. Herein, BTF packed with diatomaceous earth-based composite fillers was investigated to treat xylene under the operating conditions of complete shutdown and nutrient deficiency. The BTF experienced complete shutdown (4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 16 h, 20 h, 2 d, and 7 d), and the removal efficiency recovered completely within 1 d of operation. The performance of the BTF was not significantly affected by 87 d of complete shutdown or 43 d of nutrient deficiency. High-throughput sequencing revealed that the diatomaceous earth-based composite filler could provide a good living environment for microorganisms and maintain microbial activity during starvation stages. The results show that the diatomaceous earth-based composite filler has great resistance to starvation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short stature is one of the most frequent reasons for referral to the paediatric endocrinologist. Familial short stature is the commonest cause; however, a child who is unexpectedly small for their family requires careful evaluation. Short stature in itself is not a disease, but growth failure can be a sensitive sign of underlying health issues in children and adolescents. Differentiating short stature due to a non-endocrine cause from an endocrine cause is critical. Of the endocrine causes, growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is rare with a prevalence of approximately 1:4,000 to 1:10,000 but is an important condition warranting careful evaluation and management. In children with GHD, replacement growth hormone (GH) treatment can be highly effective in normalizing height during childhood and in achieving an adult height within the genetic target range. Whilst GHD, once diagnosed, is relatively easy to treat, the diagnosis still remains a challenge. There is no consensus with respect to a gold standard diagnostic test for GHD, and this is usually based upon a combination of clinical, biochemical and radiological data. This article provides a stepwise guide to diagnosing GHD in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of obesity is associated with dysregulated innate immune responses, including macrophages. The research field of immunometabolism dictates that immune cell function is determined by metabolic status. Obesity is associated with micronutrient deficiencies, including Vitamin D and zinc, which have been attributed widespread immunomodulatory effects. Limited information is available regarding the immunometabolic effects of micronutrients, including Vitamin D and zinc, on macrophages. More studies are needed to identify the immunometabolic effects of putative micronutrient interventions that might help improve innate immune cell functions during obesity. Metabolism is a crucial determinant of innate immune cell function, including macrophages. The availability of macro- and micronutrients impacts macrophage metabolism and, thus, function. Obesity is often accompanied by innate immune cell dysfunction driving various complications. In contrast to macronutrients, micronutrient deficiencies are frequently observed during obesity. Due to their widespread immunomodulatory effects, targeting micronutrient deficiencies (e.g., vitamin D, zinc, etc.) during obesity may serve to restore innate immune function and prevent or alleviate the development of complications. Obesity is associated with the development of various complications, including diabetes, atherosclerosis, and an increased risk for infections, driven by dysfunctional innate immune responses. Recent insights have revealed that the availability of nutrients is a key determinant of innate immune cell function. Although the presence of obesity is associated with overnutrition of macronutrients, several micronutrient deficiencies, including Vitamin D and zinc, are often present. Micronutrients have been attributed important immunomodulatory roles. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of the immunomodulatory effects of Vitamin D and zinc. We also suggest future lines of research to further improve our understanding of these micronutrients; this may serve as a stepping-stone to explore micronutrient supplementation to improve innate immune cell function during obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This position paper opens a discussion forum of this Journal dedicated to a scientific debate on Vitamin E nomenclature. With this article we provide the scientific and medical communities with what we consider relevant information in favor of revising the nomenclature of vitamin E. To our knowledge, only RRR -α-tocopherol has been medically used to protect against a deficiency disease in humans, and therefore, it would be appropriate to restrict the term vitamin to this molecule. The direct demonstration of a vitamin function to other tocochromanols (including other tocopherols, tocotrienols and eventually tocomonoenols), has not yet been scientifically shown. In fact, the medical prescription of a molecule against the deficiency disease only because it has been included in the "Vitamin E family", but not tested as vitamin E, could lead to ineffective therapy and potentially dangerous consequences for patients. The idea of this revision launched during the recent 3rd Satellite Symposium on Vitamin E of the 2022 SFRR-Europe meeting, offers a open platform of discussion for the scientists involved in vitamin E research and scientific societies interested to this subject. [Display omitted] • This position paper opens a scientific debate on the change the nomenclature of Vitamin E. • FACTS: only RRR -α-tocopherol has been shown to protect against a deficiency disease in humans. • REVISION PROPOSAL: the attributes of vitamin have to be uniquely restricted to RRR -α-tocopherol. • Other vitamin analogues should be described only by their chemical names. • If a disease is identified that is prevented by these analogues, these can be given the name of vitamin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) is one of the principal macronutrients for plant growth and productivity. Although the phosphate (Pi) transporter (PT) of the PHT1 family has been functionally characterized as participating in Pi uptake and transport in plants, information about PT genes in stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis), an important tropical forage legume that exhibits good adaptability to low-P acid soils, is limited. In this study, stylo root growth was found to be stimulated under P deficiency. The responses of PT genes to nutrient deficiencies and their roles in Pi uptake were further investigated in stylo. Four novel PT genes were identified in stylo and designated SgPT2 to SgPT5. Like SgPT1 , which had been previously identified, all five SgPT proteins harboured the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) domain. Variations in tissue-specific expression were observed among the SgPT genes, which displayed diverse responses to deficiencies in nitrogen (N), P and potassium (K) in stylo roots. Four of the five SgPTs exhibited high levels of transcriptional responsiveness to P deficiency in roots. Furthermore, SgPT1 , a Pi-starvation-induced gene closely related to legume PT homologues that participate in Pi transport, was selected for functional analysis. SgPT1 was localized to the plasma membrane. Analysis of transgenic Arabidopsis showed that overexpression of SgPT1 led to increased Pi accumulation and promoted root growth in Arabidopsis plants. Taken together, the results of this study suggest the involvement of SgPTs in the stylo response to nutrient deprivation. SgPT1 might mediate Pi uptake in stylo, which is beneficial for root growth during P deficiency. • Five SgPTs were characterized in stylo. • SgPTs were differentially regulated by nutrient deficiencies in stylo roots. • SgPTs exhibited a high transcriptional response to P deficiency in stylo roots. • SgPT1 is a plasma membrane-localized Pi transporter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop productivity on tropical peat soils is poor partly because of their nutrient deficiency and the acidic nature of tropical peat soils. Ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3– ) ions are commonly leached from tropical peat soils principally because of high rainfall and lack of clay to retain these nutrients. Leaching of these ions into water bodies causes water pollution through eutrophication which has been implicated in disrupting productive aquatic life. To reverse this act of environmental quality degradation, clinoptilolite zeolite (CZ) could be used to retain nutrients including NH4+ and NO3– in tropical peat soils for crop use because of the alkalinity and high affinity of CZ for retention of macronutrients. Moreover, this approach could be used as an innovative and sustainable alternative for high use of lime (CaCO3 ) because of the liming effect of CZ. However, information on using CZ on tropical peat soils is scarcely explored. Thus, CZ was tested in a leaching study to determine its effects on soil total nitrogen (N), exchangeable ammonium, and nitrate retention in a tropical peat soil. Treatments evaluated were: (i) soil only, (ii) nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (NPK) fertilizer alone, and (iii) combination of different amounts of clinoptilolite zeolite (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) and different amounts of NPK fertilizer (50%, 75%, and 100%). The peat soils with CZ improved soil pH, exchangeable NH4+, and available NO3– . The mixture of CZ and NPK fertilizer reduced NH4+ and NO3– loss because CZ has high affinity for NH4+ whereas NO3– was absorbed into the channels of CZ. Co-application of 100% CZ with 100%, 75%, and 50% NPK fertilizer, together with 75%, 50%, and 25% CZ with 100% fertilizer increased total N of the peat soil. Ability of CZ to buffer the soil pH reduces the need for liming. This alternative way of retaining N in tropical peat soils is practical and a sustainable approach for improving peat soil productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Soil legacy effect of P. quinquefolius persists 20 years after crop rotation. • Changes in pyruvic, fatty, and amino acids in soil inhibit the growth of P. quinquefolius. • Decreased nutrient and increased inhibitory substance levels reduced P. quinquefolius growth. • Biotic and abiotic factors control replant disease over the short-to-medium term. • Soil metabolic disturbance leads to the long-term persistence of replant disease. Replant diseases (RDs), intraspecific negative plant–soil feedback, often stem from nutrient deficiency, allelopathy, or pathogen accumulation. However, the RDs of certain crops are long-lasting and their causes remain unknown. We examined Panax quinquefolius RD in a space-for-time soil sequence representing crop rotation restoration over 1, 10, and 20 years using multiomics and bioassays. Compared with the soils with no ginseng cultivation history, we found 110 significant potential factors related to RD, surprisingly, 53 of which remained unrestored after 20 years. Soil pH and the levels of organic nutrients (amino acids, carbohydrates, and alditols), allelopathic-promoting metabolites (phenolic acids, amines, pyridines, etc.), and beneficial bacteria (Sphingomonas , Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia , and Terrabacter) and fungi (Acremonium , Penicillium , and Naganishia) decreased, while the levels of allelochemicals (pyruvic and fatty acids) increased. The expression of all metabolic pathways was significantly down-regulated, with the exception of the up-regulated fatty acid-related metabolic pathways. We confirmed that decreased organic nutrient levels and increased levels of allelochemicals impaired P. quinquefolius growth. Soil metabolic factors rather than microbial factors were dominant by network analysis. In conclusion, we found that the overall changes in nutrient levels and metabolic and microbial factors contributed to short-term RD (1–10 year) persistence, whereas long-term RD (after 20 years) primarily resulted from disordered soil metabolite levels and pathways. This research will help deepen our understanding of the relationship between RD and potential changes in the factors influencing RD that are caused by soil legacy effects of valuable plants and provide theoretical guidance for effective soil quality improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil nutrient deficiency is one of the significant challenges in grain production, particularly nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). These deficiencies not only reduce crop yields but also cause associated environmental issues, such as soil structure deterioration and ecosystem services diminution. This research aimed to investigate the long-term effects of NPK fertilizers on soil nutrient properties and maize phenology, further on the grain yield, and to evaluate the nutrient use efficiency and soil nutrient balance under different fertilization managements. A long-term field experiment was initiated in 1990 in a summer maize field in the North China Plain, including five fertilizer treatments: CK (control), NP, NK, PK, and NPK. The soil nutrient properties, maize yields, crop nutrient uptake amount, nutrient recovery efficiency (NRE), nutrient harvest index (NHI), and soil nutrient balance were annually evaluated from 2005 to 2022. Significant improvements in maize yields were found under NPK (9081 kg ha−1), NP (6426 kg ha−1), and PK (2668 kg ha−1) compared with CK (1809 kg ha−1) and NK (1656 kg ha−1). The yield increase was mainly attributed to: (1) enhancing in soil nutrient properties, such as soil organic carbon, soil total N (TN), available N (AN), total P (TP), available P (AP), and available K (AK), and (2) the shortened vegetative period, leading to greater sunshine hours (SH) and accumulative growing degree days (GDD) during the reproductive period. Furthermore, a random forest analysis quantified their importance to grain yield, showing that the edaphic factors (mainly SOC, TN, AK, AN, TP, AP, C:N, and N:P) explained a much greater proportion of yield variation compared with phenological factors (mainly GDD during tasseling and physiological maturity stages, and SH during tasseling stage). Additionally, the significantly higher response ratio of both N and P to NRE and NHI implied that N and P fertilizers having a more pronounced impact on improving nutrient use efficiency than K fertilizer. In terms of soil nutrient balance, a most relative soil nutrient balance was detected under NPK treatment, avoiding either substantial nutrient depletion or accumulation under any nutrient deficiency conditions. Soil deficiencies in N and P had more severe impacts on maize yields and nutrient use efficiency compared with K deficiency. Additionally, a balanced NPK fertilizer regime effectively managed soil nutrient balance. These findings elucidate the roles of N, P, and K fertilizers in maize production and soil nutrient conditions from a long-term field experiment, which could provide valuable insights for optimizing fertilization management strategies. • Significant higher yields were found under NPK, NP, and PK compared with CK and NK. • Maize yields were boosted by enriching soil nutrients and extending reproductive stage. • SOC, AN, TN, AP, TP, AK, C:P, and N:P were significantly correlated to maize yield. • N, P, or K deficiency led to significant nutrient depletion or residual effects in the soil. • NPK treatment maintained a balanced soil nutrient budget, promoting soil sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice yield is low at 2.1 t ha−1 in sub-Saharan Africa. Increased yield is a critical challenge to food security and environmental conservation in this region. However, smallholder farmers have limited access to irrigation, mineral fertilizers, and improved crop varieties. One approach that even resource-limited farmers can easily manipulate is to optimize planting densities. However, there is limited empirical evidence to provide technical recommendations under such low-yielding conditions. This study aimed to identify the effect of dense transplanting on lowland rice yields under low-yielding conditions, with a target range below 5 t ha−1. Multi-field trials were implemented with transplanting densities of a regular rate at 25–26.7 hills m−2, a doubled rate at 50–53.3 hills m−2, and a tripled rate at 88.9 hills m−2 in the central highlands of Madagascar, where rice yields are limited by nutrient deficiency and low temperature. Canopy coverage and cumulative intercepted radiation (CIR) were monitored from transplantation to maturity using digital imagery analysis. Field observations (n=306) and four-year household surveys (n=356) were combined to calculate the costs and benefits of changing transplanting densities. Doubling densities from 25.0–26.7 hills m−2 to 50.0–53.3 hills m−2 had a consistent yield advantage by approximately 0.4 t ha−1 across a yield range of 1.8 t ha−1–4.4 t ha−1. The yield was further increased by tripling the transplanting densities to 88.9 hills m−2 when the yield range was 1.9–2.3 t ha−1. The yield advantage of higher transplanting densities was attributed to a greater CIR at the initial growth stages and a significantly greater panicle number. Household surveys and field observations indicated that the benefit of yield gain was more than three times greater than the additional cost of doubling the seed amounts. No significant yield differences were observed by changing the transplanting densities when the yield level was higher than 5 t ha−1 or lower than 1.3 t ha−1 where substantial reductions in grain fertility occurred owing to low-temperature stress. A relatively high transplanting density of 50–53.3 hills m−2 or even higher is recommended to ensure initial canopy development and panicle number in low-yielding conditions where individual plant growth is stagnant, except in fields with high risks of grain set failure. This study provides an easy-to-use opportunity for smallholder farmers to increase their rice yield. Further studies are required to determine whether these findings apply to warmer climatic conditions. • Limited knowledge exists on optimum rice density under low-yield conditions in sub-Saharan Africa. • Doubling density to 50 hills m−2 yielded 0.4 t ha−1 more in the yield range of 1.8–4.4 t ha−1. • Dense planting boosted initial light interception by offsetting stagnant per-plant growth. • Yield gain benefits exceeded 3 times the added seed and labor costs for doubling planting densities. • Plant densities had no effect when yields were above 5 t ha−1 or extremely low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Garden pea is one of the most ideal candidates for biofortification. • All foliar micronutrient formulations enhanced pod length, weight, and seed yield. • Micromix C, particularly, exceled in plant growth and productivity in garden peas. • Micromix C elevated copper, zinc, iron, and manganese concentration for better nutrition. • Micromix C-treated peas maintained tenderness and sweetness. Soil micronutrient deficiencies lead to crops with low essential element concentrations, affecting human health through micronutrient malnutrition. Effective practices, like foliar nutrient application, improve crop quality and reduce malnutrition. The garden pea (Pisum sativum L. var. hortense) is cultivated worldwide for its nutritional value and such nutrient-rich crops, through agronomic biofortification, offer a sustainable solution to global health issues by addressing micronutrient deficiencies. Four liquid micronutrient formulations [Treatment 1 (T1), Treatment 2 (T2), Treatment 3 (T3), and Treatment 4 (T4)] were prepared using either water or vermiwash as a carrier, with variations that included the presence or absence of plant growth regulators (GA 3 + NAA)] and evaluated along with commercially available formulations [Arka Vegetable Special (T5) and ProKissan (T6)]. Micronutrient formulations, particularly T3, demonstrated notable effects on various parameters, including plant height, biomass, root characteristics, pod weight, and micronutrient contents in seeds of garden pea var. Kashi Nandini. T3 significantly outperformed other formulations in promoting plant growth, resulting in higher values for plant height, biomass, branches per plant, nodule mass, root biomass, surface area, volume, and density. Yield parameters such as pod length, weight, number of pods, and seeds per pod were also positively influenced by micronutrient treatments, with T3 leading to the highest overall yield, with a 24.09 % increase per plant and a 13.39 % increase per hectare compared to the control. Additionally, foliar application of micronutrients increased the concentration of copper, zinc, iron, and manganese in seeds, positively impacting seed quality. Quality parameters, including total soluble solids, protein, total phenol, and total flavonoid contents, were significantly improved by micronutrient treatments, with T3 showing the most favorable outcomes. Texture analysis indicated that peas treated with T3 had lower firmness values, suggesting maintained tenderness and sweetness. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations between various growth parameters, yield traits, and micronutrient contents. Overall, foliar micronutrient application proved to be a valuable biofortification strategy for enhancing the performance and quality of garden peas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Different nitrogen concentrations unveil distinct global transcription responses. • C. muelleri optimizes nitrogen use, minimizing losses under nitrogen limitation. • C. muelleri adopts alternative pathways for self-supplying nitrogen under limitation. • Transcriptome aids engineering diatom for superior quantity and quality in biotech. Nitrogen is the principal nutrient deficiency that increases lipids and carbohydrate content in diatoms but negatively affects biomass production. Marine diatom Chaetoceros muelleri is characterized by lipid and carbohyd rate a ccumulation under low nitrogen concentration without affecting biomass. To elucidate the molecular effects of nitrogen concentrations, we performed an RNA-seq analysis of C. muelleri grown under four nitrogen concentrations (3.53 mM, 1.76 mM, 0.44 mM, and 0.18 mM of NaNO 3). This research revealed that changes in global transcription in C. muelleri are differentially expressed by nitrogen concentration. "Energetic metabolism", "Carbohydrate metabolism" and "Lipid metabolism" pathways were identified as the most upregulated by N deficiency. Due to N limitation, alternative pathways to self-supply nitrogen employed by microalgal cells were identified. Additionally, nitrogen limitation decreased chlorophyll content and caused a greater response at the transcriptional level with a higher number of unigenes differentially expressed. By contrast, the highest N concentration (3.53 mM) recorded the lowest number of differentially expressed genes. Amt1 , Nrt2 , Fad2 , Skn7 , Wrky19, and Dgat2 genes were evaluated by RT-qPCR. In conclusion, C. muelleri modify their metabolic pathways to optimize nitrogen utilization and minimize nitrogen losses. On the other hand, the assembled transcriptome serves as the basis for metabolic engineering focused on improving the quantity and quality of the diatom for biotechnological applications. However, proteomic and metabolomic analysis is also required to compare gene expression, protein, and metabolite accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean is one of the most important crops for producing high quality oil and protein. Mineral nutrient deficiencies are frequently observed in soybeans. However, there are few studies to understand the absorption process of mineral nutrients in soybeans. Here, we investigated the functions of soybean (Glycine max L.) IRT1.1 (IRON-REGULATED TRANSPORTER 1.1) in the transportation of mineral elements. Heterologous expression of GmIRT1.1 in yeast mutants revealed that GmIRT1.1 compensated for the growth defects of Δfet3fet4 and Δsmf1 mutants under iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) deficiency conditions, respectively, and enhanced the sensitivity of the Δycf1 mutant to cadmium (Cd) toxicity. Expression analysis revealed that GmIRT1.1 was only significantly induced by Fe deficiency and was primarily expressed in roots. Furthermore, the GmIRT1.1 overexpression lines enhanced Arabidopsis tolerance to Fe deficiency, leading to increased accumulation of Fe in the roots and shoots. Additionally, the transgenic lines increased the sensitivity to Mn and Cd toxicity. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that GmIRT1.1 was localized on the plasma membrane. Moreover, the results obtained from the soybean hairy roots system indicated that the localization of GmIRT1.1 was dependent on the regulation of Fe homeostasis in plant. Consequently, these results suggested that GmIRT1.1 was responsible for the transportation of Fe, Mn and Cd. • Heterologous expression of GmIRT1.1 in yeast mutants revealed that GmIRT1.1 could transport Fe, Mn and Cd. • Subcellular localization analysis indicated that GmIRT1.1 was localized on the plasma membrane. • Expression analysis revealed that GmIRT1.1 was only significantly induced by Fe deficiency and was primarily expressed in roots. • Results obtained from the soybean hairy roots system revealed that the localization of GmIRT1.1 was dependent on the regulation of Fe homeostasis in plant. • Heterologous expression of GmIRT1.1 in Arabidopsis can enhance plant growth in condition of Fe deficiency, and increase plant sensitivity to Mn and Cd toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human micronutrient deficiencies in sub-Saharan Africa are connected through complex pathways to soils and how soils are managed. Interventions aiming directly at nutrient consumption, such as supplements and food fortification, have direct impacts but are often limited in their reach and require continuous support. In contrast, less direct changes, such as agricultural diversification and agronomic biofortification, are complicated by a wide array of factors that can limit progress toward nutritional outcomes. However, changes in agriculture and dietary patterns, if successfully linked to deficiencies, provide a more systemic transformation with the potential to achieve wide-reaching and self-perpetuating attainment of nutritional goals. The purpose of this paper is to advance theoretical frameworks and research methods for holistic analysis of agriculture-based interventions for micronutrient deficiencies. We synthesize lessons from the literature and from the Africa RISING project in Malawi and Tanzania about the connections between soil nutrients and human micronutrient deficiencies from the perspective of the five domains of sustainable intensification (productivity, economic, environmental, human condition and social). We present a menu of indicators for future research on the soil-plant-food-nutrition pathway related to micronutrient deficiency and smallholder farming that need to be considered to effectively assess how agricultural interventions may or may not result in the desired nutritional outcomes. Ultimately, addressing micronutrient deficiencies through agricultural interventions requires a holistic approach that considers all five domains. Research on soil-nutrition linkages should consider the feedback loops across the five domains of sustainable intensification. Interdisciplinary and participatory research to effectively link soils to human health supports sustainable development. [Display omitted] • Human micronutrient deficiencies in sub-Saharan Africa are connected through complex pathways to how soils are managed. • We synthesize experiences from Malawi and Tanzania with literature on crop management for human micronutrient deficiencies. • Addressing micronutrient deficiencies requires considering productivity, economic, environmental, social and human domains. • Research on soil-nutrition linkages should consider the feedback loops across the 5 domains of sustainable intensification. • Interdisciplinary and participatory research to effectively link soils to human health supports sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of land plants around 450 million years ago transformed the terrestrial environment. The transition of plants to land required adaptations to a host of abiotic environmental challenges, such as drought, UV-B light, temperature fluctuations, and nutrient deficiency. Key for coping with these stresses was the evolution of specialist metabolite pathways. Of particular note for stress tolerance functions are the flavonoids, which are thought to have arisen with land plants. Recently, a new group of red flavonoid compounds named auronidins were identified in the liverwort model species Marchantia polymorpha (hereafter, Marchantia). The functions of auronidin in abiotic stress resistance are uncharacterised. To address this, we generated near-isogenic lines of Marchantia with either greatly increased or no auronidin production, by overexpression (35 S :Mp MYB14) or CRISPR/Cas9 knockout (Mp myb14), respectively, of Mp MYB14 , the key R2R3MYB transcription factor regulating auronidin biosynthesis. Among a range of abiotic stresses tested, auronidin production was specifically induced by carbon/nitrogen (C/N) imbalance and by light stress. The presence of auronidin was associated with delayed plant senescence, enhanced photo-protection, and improved plant survival rates under C/N imbalance stress. Generation and analysis of loss-of-function and over-expression Marchantia lines for the homologue to the angiosperm BT2 gene, which induces flavonoid production in response to C/N balance in Arabidopsis, showed that the Mp BT gene is not involved in C/N signalling. Thus, the function of BT2 in the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis may have arisen through neofunctionalisation during angiosperm evolution. Our study furthers understanding of the function of auronidins in enhancing plant abiotic stress tolerance, revealing that they improve Marchantia tolerance to nutrient imbalance, potentially by serving as a carbon sink. • Nutrient imbalance induces auronidin pigmentation in Marchantia polymorpha. • Auronidin production delays senescence and enhances plant survival under stress. • Auronidins may function as carbon sinks and light screens during stress. • The Mp BT protein in liverworts lacks angiosperm BTB/TAZ function in C/N signalling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early detection of plant nutritional deficiencies, followed by prompt corrective measures, is crucial for maintaining crop yield and produce quality. However, detecting these early signs in plant leaves often proves challenging, even with computer-aided diagnostic tools, because of their subtlety. As a solution, this study introduces Nutrispace, a new color space that enhances deep learning-based nutritional stress recognition by accentuating early signs of nutritional deficiency in leaf images. In this study, we evaluated Nutrispace's efficacy by comparing its performance to RGB, HSV, and CIELAB using three lightweight classifiers: EfficientNetB0, MobileNetV2, and DenseNet121. To better understand Nutrispace's effective range, we tested these classifiers with four image input sizes: 32 × 32, 64 × 64, 128 × 128, and 256 × 256. Our test dataset comprised images of ash gourd (Benincasa hispida), bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), and snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina) leaves with early nitrogen and potassium deficiencies, as well as healthy controls. Our findings show that Nutrispace consistently improved accuracy across all 12 test cases, with improvements ranging from 1% to more than 8% compared to RGB. The performance improvement was more significant for higher-resolution cases, with Nutrispace achieving the maximum test accuracy of 90.62% on 256 × 256 images. Overall, Nutrispace performed effectively, irrespective of classifier structure and input size. • Nutrispace enhances early plant nutritional stress detection in leaf images. • Outperformed traditional color spaces in 22 out of 24 evaluation tests. • Achieved up to 10% higher accuracy than RGB. • Best performance at higher resolutions, achieving over 90% test accuracy. • Published a new dataset focusing on early nutrient deficiencies in cucurbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Classification of multiple nutrient deficiencies through electrophysiological signal analysis. • Signal processing is based on orthogonal wavelet decomposed feature engineering. • A novel range based sorted sample clustering method boosted the classification performance. • Homogeneous, non-homogeneous class assignments and types of wavelets have differentiated the performance metrics. • KNN classifier attained an accuracy of 99.4 % to classify multiple nutrient deficiencies at a time. The phenomenon of physiological change in plants hyperpolarizes membrane potentials showing a significant change in electrophysiology. For plants to survive, develop, and reproduce, the proper ratio of nutrients is required. Malnourished plants exhibit unfavorable changes in their physiology. Nutrient deficiencies are one of the primary abiotic stresses occurred in plants which are commonly identified and classified through various hyperspectral imaging, and pattern recognition methods. In contrast to image-based methods, in this paper, the electrophysiological signal data of tomato plants in multiple nutrient deficiency states are classified. These electrical signals of tomato plants are acquired in healthy and in deficient states of calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), nitrogen (N), and iron (Fe). The features are extracted by 7-level orthogonal wavelet decomposition using four different wavelets Daubechies (Db), Coiflet (Cf), Symlet (Sym), and Discrete Meyer (Dm). A novel range-based sorted sample clustering method is proposed to boost classification performance. Class assignment is performed in two modes homogeneous and non-homogeneous, where multi-class classification in non-homogeneous class assignment attained 99.4 % accuracy and in homogeneous class assignment a highest accuracy of 96.8 % is attained using the KNN classifier. Identifying nutrient deficiencies through electrophysiological signal analysis dominated the detection through imaging techniques, impacting a drastic change in crop protection practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Iron chlorophyllin-bound iron was less bioaccessible than iron from FeSO 4. • Caco-2 cells synthesized 2.5x more ferritin following incubation with IC vs. FeSO 4. • Cell ferritin was increased 8x following incubation with IC+ascorbic acid+albumin. Iron deficiency remains a top nutrient deficiency worldwide. Iron chlorophyllin (IC), a compound structurally analogous to heme, utilizes the protoporphyrin ring of chlorophyll to bind iron. IC has previously been shown to deliver more iron to Caco-2 cells than FeSO 4 , the most common form prescribed for supplementation. However, previous test conditions used digestive conditions outside of those observed in humans. This study sought to assess IC bioaccessibility and Caco-2 cell uptake using physiologically relevant digestive solutions, pH, and incubation time, as compared to other iron sources (i.e., FeSO 4 , and hemoglobin (Hb)). Co-digestion with ascorbic acid (AA) and albumin was also investigated. Following gastric, duodenal, and jejunal digestion, IC-bound iron was less bioaccessible than iron delivered as FeSO 4 , and IC-bound iron was less bioaccessible than Hb-bound iron. IC-bound iron bioaccessibility was not affected by AA and was enhanced 2x when co-digested with a low dose of albumin. However, Caco-2 cell incubation with IC-containing digesta increased cell ferritin 2.5x more than FeSO 4 alone, and less than Hb. IC with AA or with 400 mg albumin also increased cell ferritin more than IC alone, with the greatest increases observed following incubation of digesta containing IC + AA + 400 mg albumin. These results suggest IC can serve as an improved source of iron for supplementation as compared to FeSO 4. These results also support further in vivo investigations of IC-based iron delivery in populations at risk of iron deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a classical traditional Chinese medicine formula to invigorating spleen and replenishing qi, Sijunzi decoction (SJZD) is composed of four herbs, which is applied to cure spleen deficiency syndrome (SDS) clinically. The non-polysaccharides (NPSs) of SJZD (SJZD_NPS) are important pharmacodynamic material basis. However, the amelioration mechanism of SJZD_NPS on SDS has not been fully elaborated. Additionally, the contribution of herbs compatibility to efficacy of this formula remains unclear. The aim was to explore the underlying mechanisms of SJZD_NPS on improving SDS, and uncover the scientific connotation in SJZD compatibility. A strategy integrating incomplete formulae (called " Chai-fang " in Chinese) comparison, pharmacodynamics, gut microbiome, and metabolome was employed to reveal the role of each herb to SJZD compatibility against SDS. Additionally, the underlying mechanism harbored by SJZD_NPS was further explored through targeted metabolomics, network pharmacology, molecular docking, pseudo-sterile model, and metagenomics. SJZD_NPS significantly alleviated diarrhea, disordered secretion of gastrointestinal hormones and neurotransmitters, damage of ileal morphology and intestinal barrier in SDS rats, which was superior to the NPSs of Chai-fang. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomics analyses revealed that SJZD_NPS effectively restored the disturbed gut microbiota community and abnormal metabolism caused by SDS, showing the most evident recovery. Moreover, SJZD_NPS recalled the levels of partial amino acids, short chain fatty acids and bile acids, which possessed strong binding affinity towards potential targets. The depletion of gut microbiota confirmed that the SDS-amelioration efficacy of SJZD_NPS is dependent on the intact gut microbiome, with the relative abundance of potential probiotics such as Lactobacillus_johnsonii and Lactobacillus_taiwanensis been enriched. NPSs in SJZD can improve SDS-induced gastrointestinal-nervous system dysfunction through regulating microbiota-gut-metabolites axis, with four herbs exerting synergistic effects, which indicated the compatibility rationality of SJZD. [Display omitted] • SJZD_NPS significantly alleviated the gastrointestinal dysfunction caused by SDS. • SJZD_NPS ameliorated the chaos of gut microbiome and metabolism in SDS rats. • SJZD showed compatibility rationality, with herb-herb interactions been revealed. • The SDS amelioration effect of SJZD_NPS was gut microbiota dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Advanced dual-phase approach combining MLR and deep learning for color calibration. • Color matrix derived from four boards for creating high-quality ground truths. • Developed im2im regression CNN focusing on learning image residuals. • Enhanced efficiency by eliminating the need for physical color boards in the image. • Deep learning model outperforms existing methods with 1.52% color error. Accurate color representation in UAV-based imagery is critical in high-throughput plant phenotyping and precision agriculture for monitoring crop health and identifying nutrient deficiencies or water stress. However, achieving color accuracy is challenging due to varying lighting conditions and flight altitudes in UAV operations. To overcome these challenges, we propose an automated dual-phase approach for consistent color calibration in UAV imagery, integrating traditional color calibration methods with cutting-edge deep learning algorithms. In the first phase, we derived a color calibration matrix (M) for four color boards placed within the imaging area. This involved mapping the observed color values in the UAV images to their true color values, as measured by a colorimeter, using multivariate linear regression (MLR). The individual matrices from each board were then merged into a single, weighted average matrix, which was then applied to the UAV images for color correction, resulting in standardized color outputs. In the second phase, we developed a deep learning model, trained on the MLR-corrected images as a ground truth. This model assigns varying weights for different pixels across the image scene, translating the image from a distorted to a color-corrected image using image-to-image regression without manual intervention. We validated this approach using 184 UAV images of various sizes, ranging from 3969 × 2589 to 15257 × 15098 pixels, captured under a wide array of lighting conditions and altitudes. The results show that our deep learning model significantly outperforms existing methods, with a marginal color error of 1.52 %. This two-phase color correction method greatly improves operational efficiency by removing the necessity for physical color boards in each image and allowing for automated processing after training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haematococcus pluvialis (H. pluvialis) is a significant natural source of astaxanthin, garnering interest in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. However, astaxanthin production from H. pluvialis is constrained by factors such as a lengthy cultivation period and thick cell walls. Recent research has explored different strategies, such as optimising cultivation conditions, to enhance astaxanthin biosynthesis. This review paper aims to summarise the recent advancement of metabolic and genetic engineering in astaxanthin biosynthesis from H. pluvialis. The review would provide a comprehensive analysis of the molecular components and mechanism involved in the biosynthesis pathway of astaxanthin in H. pluvialis , revealing the specific genes responsible for governing its biosynthesis. Numerous metabolic methodologies are investigated, including manipulating light intensity, salinity, nutrient deficiency, and temperature to enhance microalgae biomass and astaxanthin accumulation. Genetic engineering strategies have recently been studied to manipulate specific genes (e.g. bkt, CrtR-b, pds) to increase astaxanthin production. However, the limitation of genetic engineering is still unclear due to its mechanism of astaxanthin esterification and the transport of secondary β-carotenoids from the chloroplast to the cytosol. This lack of understanding has posed a challenge to maximise astaxanthin production through genetic engineering. This review also provides recent insights and future research directions for genetic engineering by providing a holistic approach to the complex interplay of genetics, metabolism, and biotechnological strategies to maximise astaxanthin production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research into the effects of nutrition on depression is often performed by examining the effects of singular nutrients and dietary styles (e.g.: vegan, Mediterranean). The present study is the first one to establish the effects of patterns of nutritional deficiency within the American population and examines their effects on depression.Methods: Data was drawn from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Latent class analysis was performed to identify homogeneous groups of nutrient deficiency. A 3-step analysis was performed to establish class-dependant differences in depression severity. BCH analysis revealed unique predictors of depression dependant on most probable class.Results: Analysis revealed 4 classes of nutrient deficiency. Magnesium and dietary fibre were the least endorsed. 'Nutrient deprived' individuals showed the highest depression severity (Mean = 4.137, SD = 0.337). Profiles were predicted by different socioeconomic and anthropogenic predictors with meeting minimum calories showing the strongest odds of not being nutrient deprived (OR between 5.44 and 11.11). Overall, age (β = -0.115, p ≤ 0.01) and income (β = -0.147, p ≤ 0.01) were the strongest protecting factors while being female (β = 0.128, p ≤ 0.01) and arthritis (β = 0.130, p ≤ 0.01) were the strongest risk factors.Limitations: The study involved binary variables based on minimum daily intakes and did not account for positive effects of exceeding minimum recommended doses.Conclusions: The study supports the notion of a negative relationship between good nutrition and depression. Finding unique risk factors for depression symptoms supports the utility of nutrient deficiency profiling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Enhancement of nutritional and biochemical properties of mahewu with soybean and flaxseeds fortification. • Significant improvement in macronutrients (proteins, fats) and micronutrients in the fortified combinations. • Rheological behavior, syneresis, antioxidant activity, colour and sensory analysis all demonstrated improved quality of fortified combinations. • Soybean and flaxseed could be used to improve the nutrient deficiencies of staple foods like maize and sorghum. In this study, mahewu, a fermented cereal-based South African beverage was supplemented with soybean and flaxseed in different combinations: C1 (maize), C2 (sorghum), C3 (1:1 of maize and sorghum), C4 and C5 (8:8:3:1 and 6:6:6:2 of maize: sorghum: soybean: flaxseed). Subsequently, the nutritional and health benefits of the fortified samples were compared to that of the original beverage. Proximate composition of raw flours showed high carbohydrate content in maize (78.55 ± 0.32%) and sorghum (71.98 ± 0.46%), while soybean and flaxseed had high contents of protein (48.94 ± 0.09%) and fatty acids (43.56 ± 0.13%), respectively. In addition, significant differences (p < 0.05) and improvements were observed in crude protein, fat, micronutrients as well as the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the fortified mahewu combinations. Furthermore, the enhanced nutritional quality of the supplemented samples was also evidenced by the improved rheological behaviour, syneresis, colour profile and sensorial characteristics of C4 and C5 combinations. These findings demonstrate that soybean and flaxseed could be used as dietary supplements to improve the nutrient deficiencies of staple foods such as maize and sorghum and their processed products. This research could also serve as the foundation for developing new combinations of staple foods with nutritionally rich soybeans and flaxseeds to increase the protein and healthy fat content, along with essential micronutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The milk-based high protein (HP) ready-to-drink (R'ID) beverages have increasingly gained popularity over the past years as they are currently used by consumers looking to improve their nutritional status such as athletes and sick people at risk for nutrient deficiencies. Heat treatments are commonly applied during processing to ensure the safety and the longer shelf life of HP beverages. However, the heat treatment can compromise the final nutritional, organoleptic and technological product properties (aggregation, apparent viscosity and sedimentation). In situations where heat exchangers are used, considerable fouling accumulates on surface and often reaches a point where the efficiency of heat exchange systems becomes critical. This instability to heat treatment and the fouling formation are highly dependent on the nature of the used-protein, mineral content, pH and the presence of sensory attributes. In this context, this review will explore the impact of formulation conditions on the fouling of heat exchangers at high temperatures (UHT) and on the stability of dairy-based products, during and after heat treatments, with more focus on caseins at neutral pH. The aim of this review is to have one document which characterizes and understand the impact of heat treatment and formulation conditions on modifications at molecular and structural levels of casein, in order to improve the stability of casein-based RTD beverages and to reduce the fouling of heat exchangers and associated losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common micronutrient deficiency. Tegillarca granosa (T. granosa) is a good source of iron due to its high content of hemoglobin. The present study aimed to determine the effects of glycosylation on structure, physicochemical characteristics and iron bioavailability of hemoglobin. Using Box-Behnken design and response surface methodology, the optimal conditions for hemoglobin-chitosan glycosylation were obtained: 61.8 °C, pH 6.3, hemoglobin/chitosan mass ratio of 4.3 and reaction time of 15 min. The formation of hemoglobin-chitosan conjugates was verified by SDS-PAGE and fluorescence spectroscopy. The surface hydrophobicity of hemoglobin was reduced by 20.90–65.05 % after glycosylation, along with the observations of elevated water-holding capacity, likely owing to the introduction of hydrophilic groups. Antioxidant capacity of glycosylated products (0.41–0.66 μM Trolox/mg protein) was markedly greater than that of original protein (0.06 μM Trolox/mg protein) due to the formation of brown polymers with antioxidant activity. In addition, glycosylation improved in vitro digestibility of hemoglobin by 41.15–69.09 %, which could be attributed to less β-sheet in secondary structures. Moreover, hemoglobin (324.38 ng/mg) exhibited better iron absorption than FeSO 4 (121.63 ng/mg), with the value being further enhanced by glycosylation (442.73 ng/mg), which may be due to the improved protein digestibility and iron-chelating capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants leave testimonies of undergoing physical state by depicting distinct variations in their electrophysiological data. Adequate nutrition of plants signifies their role in the growth and a plentiful harvest. Plant signal data carries enough information to detect and analyse nutrient deficiency. Classification of nutrient deficiencies through signal decomposition and bilevel measurements has not been reported earlier. The proposed work explores tomato plants in four-time cycles (Early Morning, Morning, After Noon, Night) of macronutrients Calcium (Ca), Nitrogen (N) and micronutrients Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe). Using the Empirical Mode Decomposition method (EMD), signals are decomposed into Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMF) in 10-levels. Further, Intrinsic mode functions are grouped into two clusters to extract descriptive data statistics and bi-level measurements. Then a novel sample selection method is proposed to achieve a better classification rate by reducing sample space. A binary classification model is built to train and test 15 features individually using discriminant analysis and naïve-Bayes classifier variants. The reported results achieved a classification rate up to 98% after 5-fold cross-validation. Attained findings endorse novel pathways for detection and classification of nutrient deficiencies in the early stages, consequently promoting prevention and treatment approaches earliest to the appearance of symptoms, also helping to enhance plant growth. • Detection and classification of nutrient deficiencies through electrophysiological signal analysis. • Signal processing through decomposition into high and low-frequency groups improved results. • Sample space reduction helped to boost the classification rate. • Gaussian Naïve Bayes classifier achieved up to 98% average accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Vitamin E term has been used in scientific and commercial literature as the collective name for a group of tocochromanols. • Tocopherols and tocotrienols exhibit a range of potential health benefits, not yet tested in large human studies. • Only α-tocopherol is essential for human health, preventing a clear deficiency disease and meeting the dietary requirements. • The reconsideration of vitamin E nomenclature provides a perspective, highlighting the importance of exploring different tocochromanols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Food fortification is the addition of 1 or more micronutrients to commonly consumed foods and is utilized by many countries as a public health intervention to prevent and control micronutrient deficiencies. As iodine deficiency was a major public health issue globally, the WHO developed evidence-based guidelines for the fortification of salt with iodine. The implementation of salt iodization has been highly successful in reducing iodine deficiency disorders worldwide and is recommended as the main strategy to prevent iodine deficiency. Objectives This analysis compared salt iodization requirements specified in countries' salt standards with WHO 2014 Guidelines on salt fortification. Methods For countries with mandatory salt iodization legislation, data from the Global Fortification Data Exchange regarding iodine amounts and iodine compounds, to be added to salt per the country standard and corresponding national salt intake quantities, were compared with 2014 WHO Guidelines. Results As of 4 September 2021, 110 countries with mandatory salt iodization legislation had national salt standards that specified iodine amounts and compounds and salt intake data. All but 1 specified at least 1 recommended iodine compound, but the majority specified higher iodine amounts in salt standards than indicated in the guidelines, taking salt consumption levels into account. Our analysis did not find excess iodine intake as a result; however, we did not have data on the extent of compliance with national salt standards. Conclusions Existing iodization requirements in salt standards appear to be appropriate for most countries. Countries in which iodine amounts in salt standards are significantly higher than those recommended in the 2014 Guidelines, in particular those with low compliance with national standards or excess iodine intake, may wish to review program process and output indicators and assess whether current iodine amounts in standards would result in excessive intake if implementation was improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mitochondrial dysfunction has role in neurodegeneration • X-chromosomal NDUFA1 p.Gly32Arg variant is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction • We found five early-onset dementia patients carrying the NDUFA1 p.Gly32Arg variant • Male carriers presented with early seizures, myoclonia or extrapyramidal signs • NDUFA1 p.Gly32Arg variant may play a role in neurodegenerative early-onset dementia Early-onset dementia (EOD) is highly heritable. However, in many EOD cases the genetic etiology remains unknown. Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with neurodegeneration and the complex I (CI) deficiency is the most common enzyme deficiency in diseases related to oxidative phosphorylation. The X-chromosomal NDUFA1 gene is essential for the activity of CI. Mutations in NDUFA1 are associated with mitochondrial diseases especially with Leigh syndrome. CI deficiency is also associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of NDUFA1 variants in EOD patients. Next-generation sequencing panel was used to screen NDUFA1 variants in a cohort of 37 EOD patients with a family history of dementia or an atypical or rapidly progressive course of disease. We identified a hemizygous p.Gly32Arg variant in two brothers with AD. Subsequent screening of the variant in a larger cohort of EOD patients (n = 279) revealed three additional variant carriers (one male and two heterozygote females), suggesting that NDUFA1 variant p.Gly32Arg may play a role in neurodegenerative dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micronutrient deficiencies are a critical factor in the development of obesity. This work aimed to determine the Se and Zn bioaccessibility on biofortified chickpea flour and evaluate their impact on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The greatest increase (235 %) in isoflavones was observed in the ZnSO 4 -treatment compared to the control. Malonylated-formononetin-glucoside was the major isoflavone (43 %–50 %) found in the treatments. Na 2 SeO 3 -treated seeds showed the highest Se accumulation, while the greatest Zn accumulation was found in ZnSO 4 -treated seeds. Se bioaccesibility followed the order: Germinated Control>ZnSO 4 > ZnSeO 3 > ZnSO₄ + Na 2 SeO 3 > Na 2 SeO 3, while in the seeds biofortified with Zn salts showed the order: Germinated Control>ZnSeO 3 > ZnSO₄ + Na 2 SeO 3 > Na 2 SeO 3 > ZnSO 4. All treatments showed antioxidant activity. Na 2 SeO 3 -treatment (15.625 μg/mL) showed a significant reduction of 52 % in NO production compared to the Germinated Control. These findings demonstrated the biological value of food biofortification in providing minerals in the diet to combat the oxidative stress characteristic of obesity. • Biofortification processes could address micronutrient deficiencies. • Se and Zn levels in chickpea seeds increased by 57 and 2 times, respectively. • Se and Zn biofortified chickpeas show 149 % and 35 % increase in bioaccessibility. • Na 2 SeO 3 biofortified chickpeas exhibited better anti-inflammatory potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Random-pattern skin flaps are important method for skin reconstruction after defect; however, the distal end of flaps is not easily viable due to inadequate nutrient supply. Erastin is a well-established ferroptosis inducer, but our study found that low-dose of erastin (2 μM) may reduce nutrient deficiency induced cell death in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). RNA-seq analysis suggested that its role was related to autophagy regulation. Follow-up studies have shown that the use of autophagy inhibitors or the knockdown of TFEB in HUVECs can both reduce the anti-apoptotic effect of erastin in HUVECs. Mechanism study demonstrated that erastin can suppress mTORC1 and promote TFEB activity in HUVECs, suggesting that the effect of erastin on the survival of HUVECs under nutrient deprivation conditions is regulated by mTORC1/TFEB. Subsequently, we evaluated the effect of erastin on the survival of random-pattern skin flaps in mice in vivo. On the postoperative day 7, we observed a significant increase in flap survival area, blood perfusion, and microvascular density after erastin treatment; also, erastin treatment showed enhanced autophagy within the ischemic region. In summary, our study demonstrates that low-dose of erastin may suppress cell death in endothelial cells under nutrient deficiency condition, and its effects may relate to the mTORC1-TFEB medicated autophagy regulation, erastin treatment may be a potential therapy for random-pattern skin flaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solutions combining soilless cropping systems with wastewater reuse can offer benefits in the agriculture sector, reducing pressure on water resources, promoting sustainable production, and reclaiming wastewater. However, assessing the sanitary risks associated with wastewater reuse is of utmost importance. This study aimed to investigate the hydroponic growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa L.) in wastewater from an urban treatment plant with different levels of treatment and evaluate potential sanitary risks. Crop growth took place in a greenhouse, during summer and winter periods, using wastewater after primary (PTW) or secondary (STW) treatment, and a nutrient solution (NS), as control. Physical and chemical water quality parameters, morphological crop growth parameters, and environmental conditions inside the greenhouse were monitored. Toxicity analyses were carried out through cell viability assays with the Caco-2 cell line and total coliforms and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were determined. Wastewater-grown plants achieved acceptable growth, even though presenting lower fresh weight than NS-plants. STW-plants' growth was limited essentially by nutrient deficiency, and PTW-plants were affected by nutrient deficiency, pH values, solid load, and N-NO 2 concentration. Higher temperatures in summer led to faster crop growth, and lower temperatures in winter allowed better nutrient uptake by the crop. Wastewater-grown plants did not evidence toxicity in leaf extracts up to 1 % w/v. Coliform enumeration data indicated an accumulation in plant roots, with high removal from the wastewater. E. coli was not detected on plants' leaves and total coliforms were within acceptable limits. Furthermore, the results point to an improvement in the wastewater quality, with minimum removal values of 75.2 % BOD 5 , 83.1 % COD, 43.4 % P, 44.9 % N, and 90.4 % K. The results demonstrated the viability of wastewater reuse for hydroponic production allowing a better understanding of its processes and contributing to mitigating water scarcity for food production, and the impacts of treated wastewater discharge in freshwater courses, particularly those associated with nutrient delivery to aquatic systems. • Hydroponic production of lettuce during winter and summer using urban wastewater. • Wastewater reuse after primary and secondary treatment. • Lettuce growth is highly adapted to the hydroponic system during both periods. • Plants are appropriate for consumption; Toxicity and microbiological risks are low. • Improvement of wastewater by removing nutrients and microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The root system architecture is an important complex trait in rice. With changing climatic conditions and soil nutrient deficiencies, there is an immediate need to breed nutrient-use-efficient rice varieties with robust root system architectural (RSA) traits. To map the genomic regions associated with crucial component traits of RSA viz. root length and root volume, a biparental F 2 mapping population was developed using TI-128, an Ethyl Methane Sulphonate (EMS) mutant of a mega variety BPT-5204 having high root length (RL) and root volume (RV) with wild type BPT-5204. Extreme bulks having high RL and RV and low RL and RV were the whole genome re-sequenced along with parents. Genetic mapping using the MutMap QTL-Seq approach elucidated two genomic intervals on Chr.12 (3.14–3.74 Mb, 18.11–20.85 Mb), and on Chr.2 (23.18–23.68 Mb) as potential regions associated with both RL and RV. The Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) assays for SNPs with delta SNP index near 1 were associated with higher RL and RV in the panel of sixty-two genotypes varying in root length and volume. The KASP_SNPs viz. Chr12_S4 (C→T; Chr12:3243938), located in the 3' UTR region of LOC_Os12g06670 encoding a protein kinase domain-containing protein and Chr2_S6 (C→T; Chr2:23181622) present upstream in the regulator of chromosomal condensation protein LOC_Os2g38350. Validation of these genes using qRT-PCR and in-silico studies using various online tools and databases revealed higher expression in TI-128 as compared to BPT- 5204 at the seedling and panicle initiation stages implying the functional role in enhancing RL and RV. • Genomic regions associated with root length and root volume in rice have been mapped on chromosome 12 (3.14–3.74 Mb, 18.11–20.85 Mb), and on chromosome 2 (23.18–23.68 Mb). • Potential KASP_SNPs viz. Chr12_S4 (C.→T; Chr12:3243938) and Chr2_S6 (C→T; Chr12:23181622) can be deployed for molecular breeding • Two genes having upregulation associated with high root length and volume viz. protein kinase domain-containing protein and regulation of chromosomal condensation protein are candidates for functional characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During tumor development, the tumor itself must continuously generate new blood vessels to meet their growth needs while also allowing for tumor invasion and metastasis. One of the most common features of tumors is hypoxia, which drives the process of tumor angiogenesis by regulating the tumor microenvironment, thus adversely affecting the prognosis of patients. In addition, to overcome unsuitable environments for growth, such as hypoxia, nutrient deficiency, hyperacidity, and immunosuppression, the tumor microenvironment (TME) coordinates angiogenesis in several ways to restore the supply of oxygen and nutrients and to remove metabolic wastes. A growing body of research suggests that tumor angiogenesis and hypoxia interact through a complex interplay of crosstalk, which is inextricably linked to the TME. Here, we review the TME's positive contribution to angiogenesis from an angiogenesis-centric perspective while considering the objective impact of hypoxic phenotypes and the status and limitations of current angiogenic therapies. [Display omitted] • A close interactive link exists between tumor angiogenesis, hypoxia, and TME, collectively promoting tumorigenesis and progression. • Growth factors in the tumor microenvironment are secreted and regulated by various cell types, and a significant correlation exists between their expression levels and hypoxia. • The development of anti-angiogenic therapy is hampered by the lack of accurate biomarkers, the uncertain time window of medication, and the widespread problem of drug resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) deficiency is one of the most prevalent nutrient deficiencies in plants, and has a significant impact on crop yields. In this work we aimed to develop and evaluate innovative strategies to mitigate N deficiency. We studied the effect of supplementing tomato plants grown under suboptimal N nutrition with chitosan microparticles (CS-MPs) during short- and long-term periods. We observed that the supplementation with CS-MPs prevented the reduction of aerial biomass and the elongation of lateral roots (LR) triggered by N deficiency in tomato plantlets. In addition, levels of nitrates, amino acids and chlorophyll, which decreased drastically upon N deficiency, were either partial or totally restored upon CS-MPs addition to N deficient media. Finally, we showed that CS-MPs treatments increased nitric oxide (NO) levels in root tips and caused the up-regulation of genes involved in N metabolism. Altogether, we suggest that CS-MPs enhance the growth and development of tomato plants under N deficiency through the induction of biochemical and transcriptional responses that lead to increased N metabolism. We propose treatments with CS-MPs as an efficient practice focused to mitigate the nutritional deficiencies in N impoverished soils. • Chitosan microparticles (CS-MP) promote growth of plantlets in N deficient media. • The supplementation with CS-MP buffered the phenotype of N deficient roots. • CS-MP significantly increased NO level in root tips of tomato plantlets. • CS-MP supplemented roots showed incremented NO 3 and aminoacids in N deficient media. • CS-MP modulated the expression of N metabolism genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although involved in key functions of the terrestrial ecosystems, the activity and the diversity of soil microorganisms can be severely limited by energy and nutrients in weathered tropical soils. To optimize nutrient cycling for crop nutrition, assessing which nutrients limit the activity of the microbial food web is thus essential. This was our aim in this study carried out on a tropical ferrallitic soil from a natural grassland in Madagascar. For this purpose, we employed an innovative nutrient-omission approach in microcosms to test the distinct effects of omitting C, six nutrients (N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg) and a cocktail of micronutrients (B, Mn, Cu, Na and Mo) on the composition, biomass and activities of the microbial community and on the abundance and biomass of their nematode grazers. C and P were identified as primary limitations, but other nutrients (N, Mg and S) played significant roles as co-limiting factors. Some bacterial and fungal taxa were significantly associated to specific nutrient deficiencies and can act as biological indicators. Additionally, the abundance and biomass of microbial-feeding nematodes provided valuable insights into the responses of the soil microbial community to nutrient deficiencies. These findings contribute to our understanding of nutrient dynamics and microbial community growth in tropical grassland ecosystems and have implications for sustainable crop fertility management and ecosystem ecology in similar environments. • Nutrient limitations of a tropical soil microbial and nematode community were assessed. • A nutrient-omission method testing C, N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg and micronutrients was used. • C-P were the primary limitations followed by N, Mg and S. • Some bacterial and fungal taxa were associated to specific nutrient deficiencies. • The abundance of microbial-feeding nematodes provided valuable insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising popularity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), defined by the Nova classification system, makes them an appealing option for food fortification initiatives to address micronutrient deficiencies in vulnerable populations. However, significant controversy surrounds this issue given that higher intake of UPFs is associated with a range of health risks including development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This paper investigates the utility and extent to which UPFs may be used as vehicles of fortification to improve population health. The underlying mechanisms linking UPFs with disease are discussed and evaluated compared to the potential risks of eliminating them from fortification initiatives. A summary of the four main arguments most commonly cited in the debate over UPFs and their fortification are then reviewed. The future of fortified UPFs needs more research to untangle the health effects of food processing, the involvement of the food industry in product reformulation, and a strengthening of regulation on production and labeling. This perspectives piece serves to stimulate further debate regarding the role processing should play in foods in general and how it should be considered by nutritional classification schemes to assess the healthfulness of foods. • Removing fortified ultra-processed foods may have unintended nutritional consequences. • Fortified ultra-processed foods might help reduce micronutrient deficiencies globally. • Health risks of ultra-processed food may not outweigh benefits of fortification. • Corporate food involvement and stricter regulation are necessary to move forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nano bio-fertilizer was developed by chelation between minerals from plant waste with citric acid which precipitated in nano-form. Flavonoids and Phenols from the plant waste also contributed in reducing the particles to nano size. ICP-MS and ICP-OES studies revealed that the nano-biofertilizer contained different concentrations of N, P, K, Zn, Mn, Fe, Ca, Mg, Cu and Se mineral elements and were found in plant root and shoot system after the application of nano-biofertilizer (nbF) suggesting effective uptake and translocation of these minerals. SEM and zeta size study suggested that nano-biofertilizer particles were in the size range of 100–200 nm and 100–116 nm, respectively. Zeta potential of the nano bio-fertilizer of the order of −47.18 mv showed the nanoparticles to be highly stable. FT-IR verified the successful coordination of citrate to the metal atoms. Morphological and biochemical parameters of CBZ-90 Common bean plants increased upon the application of nano-biofertilizer in phyta jar. When compared to control plants (without nbF) both in agar (optimum dose of 40 ppm) and MGRL media highlighting the vital role of nano-biofertilizer in providing plants with a complete range of macro and micro elements. This indicates the quantitative and qualitative efficiency of the nano-biofertilizer. Amino acid Proline was seen to decrease with the application of nano-biofertilizer revealing alleviation from mineral stress caused due to nutrient deficiency in the control conditions. An additional concentration dependent antifungal property was seen in the nbF. At a concentration of 100 ppm, more than 79 per cent fungal growth inhibition was achieved. • Extraction of minerals from Pomegranate peel-mineral elements converted to nano -mineral chelates. • Size of nano-mineral chelates obtained was 100–200 nm. • Stability of nano-mineral chelates obtained was −47.18 mv. • Enhanced uptake of mineral elements. • Morphological and biochemical parameters enhanced. • Nano-biofertilizer provides complete range of micro and macro elements standardized in MGRL media. • 40 ppm was observed as optimum dose in enhancing morphological and biochemical parameters. • Proline decreases compared to the control plants. • Nano-biofertilizer showed antifungal property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dr. Bruce Ames was a pioneer in understanding the role of oxidative stress and DNA damage, and in the 1990s began to make connections between micronutrient deficiencies and DNA damage. Zinc is an essential micronutrient for human health and a key component for the function of numerous cellular processes. In particular, zinc plays a critical role in cellular antioxidant defense, the maintenance of DNA integrity and is also essential for the normal development and function of the immune system. This review highlights the work helping connect zinc deficiency to oxidative stress, susceptibility to DNA damage and chronic inflammation that was initiated while working with Dr. Ames. This review outlines the body of work in this area, from cells to humans. The article also reviews the unique challenges of maintaining zinc status as we age and the interplay between zinc deficiency and age-related inflammation and immune dysfunction. Several micronutrient deficiencies, including zinc deficiency, can drastically affect the risk of many chronic diseases and underscores the importance of adequate nutrition for healthy aging. [Display omitted] • Zinc is an essential micronutrient for human health and a key component for the function of numerous cellular processes. • Zinc plays a critical role in cellular antioxidant defense, maintaining DNA integrity, and immune development and function. • Unique challenges exist in maintaining zinc status as we age. • Micronutrient deficiencies affect chronic disease risks, underscoring the importance of adequate nutrition for healthy aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past decade has seen probiotics being incorporated into non-dairy food matrices at a proliferating rate. Concurrently, functional coffees fortified with cannabidiol, l -theanine, turmeric etc. have emerged. As non-dairy probiotic foods and functional coffees become more mainstream amid health and wellness trends, lucrative opportunities exist for coffees fortified with probiotics. Yet, the concept of probiotic coffees is still relatively new. This review summarises recent scientific and commercial developments in using coffee as a probiotic delivery matrix. To ensure successful development, technological challenges unique to coffee as a matrix are addressed, pertaining to probiotic viability, sensorial, and manufacturing aspects. Potential health benefits of probiotic coffees are also discussed, followed by anticipations on how prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics may be applied within the domain of functional coffees. Key findings and Conclusions : Probiotic coffees can be developed either by using Bacillus spores to produce non-fermented formulations, or by fermenting coffee brews with vegetative cells. Non-fermented formulations are easier to develop as Bacillus spores are heat-resistant during brewing. Contrastingly, fermented formulations are more challenging to develop as heat, nutrient scarcities, and acidity impair probiotic viabilities. Fermented formulations also have shortcomings relating to flavour changes, and additional installations to existing coffee manufacturing processes. Nevertheless, vegetative probiotics potentially offer greater functionalities than spores, by biotransforming amino acids, melanoidins and chlorogenic acids into more bioactive and bioavailable forms. However, additional functionalities will require further substantiation from mechanistic and clinical studies. Finally, besides probiotics, ample opportunities similarly exist for coffees fortified with prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics. • Imbuing coffees with probiotics offers ample opportunities amid health trends. • Coffees can be fermented with vegetative probiotics, or non-fermented with Bacillus. • Heat, nutrient deficiency, and acidity impair probiotic viability in coffee brews. • Bacillus spores minimises changes to coffee flavours and manufacturing processes. • Probiotics may biotransform coffee compounds and amino acids to improve functionalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies is needed to determine related disease burden; underpin evidence-based advocacy; and design, deliver, and monitor safe, effective interventions. Assessing the global prevalence of deficiency requires a valid micronutrient status biomarker with an appropriate cutoff to define deficiency and relevant data from representative surveys across multiple locations and years. The Global Burden of Disease Study includes prevalence estimates for iodine, iron, zinc, and vitamin A deficiencies, for which recommended biomarkers and appropriate deficiency cutoffs exist. Because representative survey data are lacking, only retinol concentration is used to model vitamin A deficiency, and proxy indicators are used for the other micronutrients (goiter for iodine, hemoglobin for iron, and dietary food adequacy for zinc). Because of data limitations, complex statistical modeling is required to produce current estimates, relying on assumptions and proxies that likely understate the extent of micronutrient deficiencies and the consequent global health burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin D is defined as a nutrient despite its rare occurrence in food. Vitamin D status is determined mainly by solar UV light action in skin. However, the strategy to combat vitamin D deficiency has been to increase oral intake of vitamin D in greater amounts than could be obtained from food. Persistent large intakes of vitamin D can cause hypercalcaemic toxicity. Although the amounts recommended to prevent deficiency are far less than those causing such toxicity, the possibility of other toxic actions from increased intake of vitamin D has been ignored. Animal experiments have demonstrated that moderate amounts of oral vitamin D over time result in atherosclerosis. Differences in the fate of vitamin D could explain this angiotoxicity. Vitamin D is defined as a micronutrient, yet very few foods contain more than a trace of vitamin D. Solar UV light induces vitamin D formation in skin, and surveys have demonstrated that vitamin D status is determined mainly by this method. The amount of vitamin D produced in skin is far greater than could be obtained from natural foods. Potential toxicity of vitamin A, a true micronutrient, is prevented by esterification or by binding to specific proteins, but no protective mechanisms prevent toxicity of oral vitamin D. By contrast, large amounts can be produced in skin without any toxicity. Animals fed vitamin D in greater amounts than required to prevent deficiency disease developed vascular pathology of atherosclerosis. The toxicity of oral vitamin D is postulated to be mediated by 25-hydroxyvitamin D delivered to cells in arterial walls in very-low-density lipoproteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]