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Background Inadequate nutritional status contributes to substantial losses in human health and productivity globally. A multiple biofortified food crop trial targeting iron, zinc, and vitamin A deficiencies among young children and their breastfeeding mothers is being conducted in India. Objective We sought to determine the relative iron bioavailability from biofortified and conventional crops and crop combinations representative of a cyclical menu using crops targeted for inclusion in the feeding trial. Methods Crops were procured from India, cooked, freeze-dried, and analyzed with an established in vitro digestion/Caco-2 iron bioavailability assay using a fixed sample weight. Crop proportions representative of meals planned for the human study were determined and combined such that samples included either all biofortified or all control crops. Crops were analyzed as single crops (n = 4) or crop combinations (n = 7) by variety (biofortified or control) in triplicate. The primary outcome was iron uptake measured by Caco-2 ferritin production normalized to total Caco-2 protein (nanograms of ferritin/milligrams of cell protein) analyzed for effects of crop variety and crop proportion using generalized linear models. Results Biofortified pearl millet alone demonstrated higher iron uptake than conventional varieties (5.01 ± 1.66 vs. 2.17 ± 0.96; P = 0.036). Addition of sweet potato or sweet potato + pulse improved iron uptake for all proportions tested in control varieties and select proportions for biofortified varieties (P ≤ 0.05). Two multiple crop combinations demonstrated modestly higher iron uptake from biofortified crops. Conclusions Optimizing total iron delivery should consider matrix effects, processing, and promoters/inhibitors of iron absorption in addition to total iron concentration. Future directions include evaluating recipes as prepared for consumption and comparison against human iron bioavailability studies., Iron uptake from multiple biofortified crops was higher in combinations containing sweet potato or pulse relative to paired control crop combinations despite containing lower iron concentrations.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the burden of anemia and micronutrient deficiencies among young children living in urban slums of Mumbai, India. METHODS: Participants were children 10–18 months of age (n = 278) residing in urban slums in Mumbai who were screened as part of a randomized feeding trial of biofortified pearl millet. Venous blood was collected by a pediatric phlebotomist and hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations were assessed via Coulter counter. Samples were processed and stored 5.0 mg/L. Iron deficiency anemia was defined as Hb 5.0 mg/L. The prevalence of vitamin B(12) deficiency was 17.0%, 41.8% of children had vitamin B(12) insufficiency, and 19.9% had folate deficiency. Among anemic children, 84.5% had ≥1 micronutrient deficiency and 22.7% had ≥ 2 micronutrient deficiencies. Iron deficiency (RR: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.55, 2.99; P

OBJECTIVES: To examine and compare the concentration of acute phase proteins, including nutritional and inflammation biomarkers, by morbidity status among children 12–24 months old living in urban slums of Mumbai. METHODS: 12–24-month-old children were screened for participation in a randomized controlled trial involving feeding of iron- and zinc-biofortified pearl millet complementary foods. Information on acute illness including fever, respiratory symptoms, and diarrhea on the day of screening, in the past 7 days, and the last 4 weeks was collected along with blood samples for analysis of concentrations of nutritional (ferritin, retinol) and inflammation biomarkers (C-reactive protein, alpha-1-glycoprotein) involved in the acute phase response. Difference in medians were compared by the Kruskal-Wallis Test. RESULTS: The mean age of children was 14.9 months; 51% were males. More than half the children (54%) had at least one or more symptoms such as fever, cough, or diarrhea at any timepoint in the 4 weeks prior to the interview. Among those with symptoms, fever and respiratory symptoms, either alone or in combination, were most common (44.8%), while diarrhea (alone or in combination with fever or respiratory symptoms) was present in only 11% of the population. More than a quarter had some illness in the 7 days before the interview (25.8%) with 2.5% having illness (fever and/or respiratory symptoms) on the day of the interview. Among those reporting no morbidity, 7% had elevated CRP. Among those reporting acute illness on the day of interview or in the past 7 days, 13% had elevated CRP. When compared across different kinds of acute illness and having no symptoms, there was no significant difference in the median concentrations of CRP, ferritin, and retinol. Similar results were observed on comparing the concentration of these acute phase reactants across children with no, one, two, or more symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Among this pediatric population, we did not observe any significant difference in the concentration of acute phase reactants by illness type or number of concurrent illnesses compared with apparently healthy children. FUNDING SOURCES: HarvestPlus.

The 'druggable genome' encompasses several protein families, but only a subset of targets within them have attracted significant research attention and thus have information about them publicly available. The Illuminating the Druggable Genome (IDG) program was initiated in 2014, has the goal of developing experimental techniques and a Knowledge Management Center (KMC) that would collect and organize information about protein targets from four families, representing the most common druggable targets with an emphasis on understudied proteins. Here, we describe two resources developed by the KMC: the Target Central Resource Database (TCRD) which collates many heterogeneous gene/protein datasets and Pharos (https://pharos.nih.gov), a multimodal web interface that presents the data from TCRD. We briefly describe the types and sources of data considered by the KMC and then highlight features of the Pharos interface designed to enable intuitive access to the IDG knowledgebase. The aim of Pharos is to encourage 'serendipitous browsing', whereby related, relevant information is made easily discoverable. We conclude by describing two use cases that highlight the utility of Pharos and TCRD.

OBJECTIVES: 1. Assess serum retinol-binding protein (RBP) among clinical participants at two time points: during the onset of acute febrile illness and again during the convalescent recovery phase. 2. Apply and compare several inflammation adjustment strategies for determining vitamin A status. METHODS: Patients presenting with acute febrile illness were enrolled. Participants were asked to return for a follow-up convalescent visit 2–4 weeks later. Comprehensive demographic and clinical information along with blood samples were collected at both visits. RBP, C-reactive protein (CRP), and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) were measured by ELISA, (R&D Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, MN), and pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured by magnetic bead multiplex assay, (EMD Millipore Corporation, Billerica, MA). Continuous RBP was adjusted using the Thurnham correction factor (TCF), the BRINDA regression correction (BRC), and the CRP-only adjustment factor (CAF). An interleukin 6 (IL-6) regression model was also applied to adjust RBP based on IL-6 concentrations for participants with CRP ≥5 mg/L. Adjusted RBP concentrations were compared between paired visits using non-parametric paired Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and p values

OBJECTIVES: To examine the burden of anemia and deficiencies of iron, vitamin B(12), and folate in women of reproductive age (WRA) in Ecuador. METHODS: Data from the 2012 Ecuadorian National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT-ECU) were analyzed to examine the burden of anemia and micronutrient deficiencies among 7658 women of reproductive age (12–49 y; n = 7383 non-pregnant, n = 275 pregnant). Venous blood samples were collected, and hemoglobin (Hb) was assessed viathe sodium lauryl sulfate method. Samples were centrifuged, processed, and stored

OBJECTIVES: To examine the burden of anemia and malnutrition in children presenting with suspected dengue virus infection, as part of our ongoing surveillance program for acute febrile illnesses in Ecuador. METHODS: A total of 58 children (6 months to 5 y) were recruited in 2018 as part of the surveillance program. Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical signs and symptoms, and anthropometric data were obtained using structured interviews and standardized assessments. Venous blood samples were collected, and hemoglobin was assessed via the sodium lauryl sulfate method. Suspected dengue cases were identified using the World Health Organization dengue severity classification guidelines. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin 1 SDs, and BMIZ >2 SDs, respectively. Binomial and linear regressions were used to examine the associations of hemoglobin, anemia, and anthropometric variables with clinical variables among patients presenting with suspected dengue infection. RESULTS: Approximately 33% of children were classified as suspected dengue cases and 43% of the children were anemic (median [IQR]: 111 [103, 118] g/L). Additionally, 26% of the cohort presented a fever and the most prevalent symptoms were rash (67%), nausea (43%) and vomiting (31%). Further, 7% of the children were stunted, 3% were underweight, and 5% of children were wasted. Approximately 19% were overweight and 12% were obese. Anemia was associated with an increased likelihood of presenting a rash (P = 0.04) overall as well as within the subset of children not suspected of having dengue viral infection. There were no significant associations noted between nutritional factors and other clinical variables. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that the prevalence of anemia and overweight were high in children presenting with suspected dengue virus infection in coastal Ecuador. FUNDING SOURCES: NIH.

OBJECTIVES: To 1) examine the burden of vitamin B(12) deficiency, 2) determine the effects of recombinant growth hormone and rosiglitazone on vitamin B(12) status, and 3) investigate vitamin B(12) status as a risk factor for changes in insulin sensitivity (SI) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT), among HIV-infected patients with insulin resistance and visceral adiposity participating in a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Participants were 72 HIV-infected adults (median [IQR]: 48 [43, 53] y) with insulin resistance and visceral adiposity who participated in a 12-week randomized trial of recombinant growth hormone (GH) and rosiglitazone (R). Venous blood samples were collected at baseline, 4, and 12 weeks, and samples were centrifuged, processed, and stored 0.26 µmol/L.Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate the effects of treatment on vitamin B(12) status. Generalized linear models were used to assess the associations of vitamin B(12) concentrations with SI and VAT. RESULTS: A total of 2.3% of patients were vitamin B(12) deficient and 13.6% were vitamin B(12)insufficient at baseline (median [IQR]: 419.8 [287.0, 538.6] pmol/L); 5.4% had elevated MMA concentrations. The GH + R intervention significantly lowered vitamin B(12) concentrations at 4 (β: −66.6, 95% CI: −119.6, −13.6, P = 0.01) and 12 (β: −73.3, 95% CI: −117.8, −28.7, P = 0.001) weeks, compared to placebo. The GH-only intervention significantly lowered vitamin B(12)concentrations at 12 weeks (β: −89.1, 95% CI: −143.0, −35.3, P = 0.001), compared to placebo. Vitamin B(12) concentrations did not significantly change in the R-only group. There were no significant changes in MMA concentrations. Vitamin B(12) concentrations at baseline were not significantly associated with changes in SI or VAT (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of vitamin B(12) deficiency was low in HIV-infected individuals with insulin resistance and visceral adiposity. However, interventions containing recombinant growth hormone decreased vitamin B(12) status during follow-up. FUNDING SOURCES: BG was supported by NIH/NCATS Grant # TL1-TR-002386; Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University.

BACKGROUND: Insulin regulates fatty acids (FAs) in the blood; conversely, FAs may mediate insulin sensitivity and are potentially modifiable risk factors of the diabetogenic state. OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to examine the associations between plasma concentrations of FAs, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) among individuals (n = 1433) in the NHANES (2003–2004). DESIGN: Plasma concentrations of 24 individual FAs were considered individually and in subgroups, per chemical structure. Study participants were categorized in diabetogenic groups: Group 1 (HbA1c ≥6.5% or FPG ≥126 mg/dL), Group 2 (HbA1c 5.7% to