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Effect of the addition of malate on in vitro rumen fermentation of cereal grains.

Batch cultures of mixed rumen micro-organisms were used to study the effects of different concentrations of malate (Rumalato(R); Norel & Nature S.A., Barcelona, Spain; composed of disodium malate-calcium malate (0.16:0.84, w/w)) on the fermentation of four cereal grains (maize, barley, wheat and sorghum). Rumen contents were collected from four Merino sheep fed lucerne hay ad libitum and supplemented with 300 g concentrate/d. Rumalato(R) was added to the incubation bottles to achieve final concentrations of 0, 4, 7 and 10 mm-malate. Gas production was measured at regular intervals up to 120 h. Malate increased (P<0.01) the average fermentation rate of all substrates, and the lag time decreased (P<0.05) linearly with increasing concentrations of malate for all substrates, with the exception of sorghum. In 17 h incubations, the final pH and total volatile fatty acid production increased (P<0.001) linearly for all substrates as malate concentration increased from 0 to 10 mm. Propionate and butyrate production increased (P<0.05), while the value of the acetate : propionate ratio and l-lactate concentrations decreased (P<0.05) linearly with increasing doses of malate. Malate treatment increased (P<0.05) the CO2 production and decreased the production of CH4, although this effect was not significant (P>0.05) for maize. Malate at 4 and 7 mm increased (P<0.05) optical density of the cultures measured at 600 nm for maize, with no differences for the other substrates. The results indicate that malate may be used as a feed additive for ruminant animals fed high proportions of cereal grains, because it increased pH and propionate production and decreased CH4 production and l-lactate concentrations; however, in general, no beneficial effects of 10 compared with 7 mm-malate were observed.

Animal Feed↗

Soya isoflavone-enriched cereal bars affect markers of endothelial function in postmenopausal women.

Soya isoflavones are thought to be cardioprotective due to their structural similarity to oestrogen. In order to investigate the effect of soya isoflavones on markers of endothelial function we conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study with thirty healthy postmenopausal women. The women consumed cereal bars, with or without soya isoflavones (50 mg/d), for 8 weeks, separated by an 8-week washout period. Systemic arterial compliance (SAC), isobaric arterial compliance (IAC), flow-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilation (FMD) and nitroglycerine-mediated endothelium-independent vasodilation (NMD) were measured at the beginning of the study and after each intervention period. Blood pressure (BP) and plasma concentrations of nitrite and nitrate (NOx) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were measured at the beginning and end of each intervention period. NMD was 13.4 (SEM 2.0)% at baseline and 15.5 (SEM 1.1) % after isoflavone treatment compared with 12.4 (SEM 1.0)% after placebo treatment (P=0.03). NOx increased from 27.7 (SEM 2.7) to 31.1 (SEM 3.2) microM after isoflavones treatment compared with 25.4 (SEM 1.5) to 20.4 (SEM 1.1) microM after placebo treatment (P=0.003) and a significant increase in the NOx:ET-1 ratio (P=0.005) was observed after the isoflavone treatment compared with placebo. A significant difference in SAC after the isoflavone and placebo treatment was observed (P=0.04). No significant difference was found in FMD, IAC, BP and ET-1. In conclusion, 8 weeks' consumption of cereals bars enriched with 50 mg soya isoflavones/d increased plasma NOx concentrations and improved endothelium-independent vasodilation in healthy postmenopausal women.

Biomarkers↗

Interactions between wheat and other dietary cereals with respect to metabolisable energy and digestible amino acids.

Small, varying improvements in apparent ileal amino acid digestibilities were obtained when wheat was combined with certain other cereals in broiler diets. Synergistic interactions, sometimes resulting in large improvements in the apparent metabolisable energy (AME) contents of the diets, were also observed with certain cereal combinations. Combining wheat with maize or oats enhanced the utilisation of dietary energy and amino acids.

Amino Acids↗

Performance of laying hens as affected by split time and split composition dietary regiments using ground and unground cereals.

A factorial experiment was conducted to study the effects on the performance of White Leghorn X Australorp laying hens of diets based on unground cereal grains, small morning and large afternoon meals, and morning and afternoon meals of different composition. From 10 to 21 weeks of age the pullets' food intake was restricted, using either a diet in which the wheat fraction (600 g/kg) was unground or a fully ground diet of similar composition. In the laying period the birds received either a diet (U) in which the limestone was granulated and most of the cereal fraction (wheat and oats or wheat and sorghum) was unground or a fully ground diet (G) of similar composition. Both laying diets were offered ad libitum (A), with 25% issued in the morning and 75% in the late afternoon (T) or as a protein concentrate (250 g/kg of total diet) in the morning and cereal/limestone fraction (750 g/kg) in the late afternoon (C). Rearing and laying performance were unaffected by rearing diet. Laying diet U resulted in a 5.2% increase in food intake and a 0.9 g increase in average egg weight compared with diet G. From 21 to 56 weeks of age, when the cereal/limestone fraction of the diet included oats (240 g/kg of total diet), diet U resulted in fewer (4.8/bird) eggs and a lower financial margin than diet G. From 56 to 80 weeks of age, when oats were replaced by sorghum, this trend was reversed (-3.5 eggs). Birds on diet C produced fewer (16.9) eggs of lower (1.5 g) average weight than birds on diet A, ate less (1.39 kg) food and had a lower financial margin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗

Performance and gastro-intestinal response of broiler chickens fed on cereal grain-based foods soaked in water.

1. Two experiments were carried out to investigate the addition of 1 3 kg water per kg air-dry mash diets containing high proportions (600 to 700 g/kg) of ground cereal grains (wheat, barley or oats) on broiler performance and the structure and function of the gastro-intestinal tract. 2. Chicks at the age of 7 d were fed on the wheat-, barley- or oats-based diets in the dry or wet forms for 35 d. Food and water intakes were recorded daily while body weight was measured weekly. Two birds from each treatment were killed each week to measure gut size and the viscosity of gut contents. Tissue samples from various digestive segments were histo-morphologically examined to determine the thickness of tissue layers, size of tissue glands, villa heights, crypt depths and thickness of tunica muscularis. Crypt cell proliferation rate (CCPR) for each segment was also determined using a metaphase arrest technique. 3. The results from both experiments showed that wetting food significantly (P<0.05) increased food intake, total water intake and body weight gain of broiler chickens. The body weight gains of birds were proportional to their food intakes so that the efficiency of food utilisation was similar for all treatments. Dry matter retention of food tended to increase in birds given wet food from 7 to 21 d but not thereafter, compared to the dry-fed birds. Although water intake from the water bottle was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in birds given wet food, total water intakes from the water bottle plus that from food were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the wet-fed birds than in the dry-fed birds. The ratio of total water to dry food intake was, however, similar in both feeding regimens. 4. The fresh empty weight of the gut was increased by wet-feeding while its relative weight to body weight and the length of gut was not affected by dietary treatments. Significantly greater development of the tissue glands in the proventriculus and gizzard was observed in the birds given wet food; this was associated with the reduced thickness of the muscular layer of these segments. An increase in villus height was also observed in duodenum, small intestine, caeca and colon of birds given wet food, compared to those given dry food. CCPR was significantly (P<0.05) reduced by wet-feeding throughout the digestive tract. This was associated with a significant decrease in the mean viscosity of the gut contents and the concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in the caeca. 5. Wetting diets based on cereal grains caused a significant improvement in the performance of broiler chickens. The mechanism of the beneficial effects of wet feeding could be attributed to the decreased viscosity of gut contents; the greater development of the layer of villi in the digestive segments and the reduced CCPR in the crypts of the epithelium.

Aging↗

Ochratoxin A in cereal-based baby foods: occurrence and safety evaluation.

Ochratoxin A is a typical cereal contaminant with strong nephrotoxic activity. To estimate the quantity of ochratoxin A that can be taken in by a child in the weaning period, several samples of cereal-based baby foods were analysed. Although most samples analysed contained ochratoxin A in undetectable amounts or below the Italian legal limit of 0.5 microg kg(-1), some irregular products were found. In particular, the analyses of the 119 batches (338 samples) of baby foods considered indicated that: 20 batches (16.8%) contained detectable quantities of ochratoxin A and four of these (3.4% of the total) contained ochratoxin A above the Italian permitted value. All samples coming from agricultural practices based on integrated pest management contained undetectable amounts of ochratoxin A, while approximately 5% of batches coming from conventional and organic agricultural practices were above the legal limit. On the basis of the established provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), there is no significant toxicological risk for a child who occasionally consumes a formula with ochratoxin concentration slightly above the permitted level. However, stricter controls have to be applied to reject the batches containing irregular concentrations of ochratoxin A.

Agriculture↗

The coexistence of the Fusarium mycotoxins nivalenol, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in Korean cereals harvested in 1983.

A survey for the occurrence of nivalenol (NIV), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) in Korean cereals (totalling 53 samples) harvested in 1983, showed that 96%, 72% and 57% of the samples were contaminated with NIV, DON and ZEN, respectively. Average concentrations (micrograms/kg) in unpolished barley were 546 (NIV), 117 (DON) and 110 (ZEN), and those in polished barley were 130 (NIV) and 21 (DON). The ZEN levels were below the detection limit (1 microgram/kg). Malt, wheat and rye were also heavily contaminated with these Fusarium mycotoxins. The results of this survey show that Korean cereals harvested in 1983 were significantly contaminated with NIV, DON and ZEN, and the incidence and levels, where observed, are similar to those reported in Japan.

Edible Grain↗

Factors affecting the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content of cereals, fats and other food products.

Factors affecting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in oils and fats, cereals and related foodstuffs have been investigated. Levels of PAHs were low in retail fish and animal-derived oils and fats, such as butter, where the mean benzo(a)pyrene concentration was 0.06 microgram/kg. Higher and more variable amounts were present in retail vegetable oils for which the mean level of benzo(a)pyrene was 1.29 micrograms/kg. Margarine was the major dietary source of PAHs in the oils and fats total diet group accounting for 70% of the benzo(a)pyrene intake from these commodities. The levels of benzo(a)pyrene were less than 0.1 microgram/kg in white flour and similar amounts were found in bread showing that PAHs are not formed to any significant extent during baking of bread. Higher concentrations of up to 2.2 micrograms/kg benzo(a)pyrene were detected in cereal-derived products containing higher levels of edible oils such as pudding-based desserts, biscuits and cakes. The presence of vegetable oils as an ingredient also appeared to increase PAH levels in infant formulae as the mean benzo(a)pyrene content of 0.49 microgram/kg was four times higher than that found in skimmed milk. The mean value in the feed, after reconstituting the formulae with water, would however have been less than 0.1 microgram/litre. Investigations of rape seed drying showed no increase in any PAHs when cold, or electrically-heated air was used. Combustion gas drying had no effect for the larger PAHs such as benzo(a)pyrene but caused mean increases of between 41% and 126% for fluoranthene, pyrene and chrysene. These increases did not correlate with reductions in moisture content of the rape seed implying that the combustion conditions were more important to PAH contamination than the degree of exposure to combustion gases. Concentrations of these three PAHs and also benz(a)anthracene were all significantly reduced by up to a factor of five when crude oils were refined suggesting that carefully controlled direct drying need not contribute PAHs to refined oils and fats.

Brassica↗

Natural occurrence of mycotoxins and mycotoxigenic fungi in cereals in the United Kingdom.

Approximately 50 samples of poorly stored cereals were examined for mycotoxins, fungi and biological activity. While some mycotoxins such as ochratoxin A and citrinin occurred frequently, many other fungal metabolites present could not be identified. Cereal extracts and isolates of some fungi, when grown in culture, were often toxic to brine shrimp larvae but, in some toxic extracts, no known mycotoxins were identified. A preliminary report of this study forms the subject of this paper.

Animals↗

Role of rice and cereal products in dietary cadmium and lead intake among different socio-economic groups in south India.

A study was conducted to evaluate the concentration of cadmium and lead in rice and cereal products commonly consumed in South India. Samples from retail outlets were purchased and analysed for cadmium and lead using graphite tube atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results indicated varying concentrations of these metals in different rice and cereal products. The daily dietary intake of cadmium and lead varied among different socio-economic groups, based on occupation, and choice of consumption. The findings suggest that rice is the major source of cadmium and lead among the rural population and economically-deprived class. The source of intake of toxic metals appears to be more diverse in the case of the urban middle class and the economically privileged class of South India.

Cadmium↗

Surveillance of fumonisins in UK maize-based foods and other cereals.

A survey has been carried out to determine the levels of fumonisins in a variety of maize-based foods and cereals available in the UK. The fate of fumonisins during commercial processing of maize was also assessed at each stage of the process. Fumonisins were not detected in samples of barley, wheat, soya, oats, rice, corn syrup or oil, corn-on-the-cob, corn-fed chicken or wheat flour tortilla. Despite detectable fumonisin contamination in samples of the original maize, fumonisins were not detected in samples of the food products obtained from commercial maize processing. Low levels were detected in samples of tacos and in some foods containing corn-based thickeners, such as instant semolina pudding and instant custard powder. Approximately 78% of corn snack samples contained fumonisins (11-220 micrograms/kg), while 24% of breakfast cereals contained total fumonisins at between 11 and 194 micrograms/kg. Although none of the ready-made popcorn samples contained detectable levels of fumonisins, 46% of popping corn samples and microwaveable popcorn contained fumonisins at 14-784 micrograms/kg. The highest levels of fumonisins were detected in samples of polenta with concentrations ranging from 16 to 2124 micrograms/kg. Overall, fumonisins were detected in 26% (76) of the 291 retail samples analysed.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Cereal-based oral rehydration solutions in Sudanese children with diarrhoea: a comparative clinical trial of rice-based and sorghum-based oral rehydration solutions.

A randomized controlled study was carried out at the Children's Emergency Hospital, Khartoum to evaluate the acceptability, safety and efficacy of (rice or sorghum) cereal-based oral rehydration solutions (ORS) relative to that of the standard WHO ORS formulation in children with acute diarrhoea. Ninety-six children whose ages ranged from 6 to 40 months were enrolled in the study. Thirty-two of them were allocated to the rice-based ORS group, 34 to the sorghum-based ORS group and 30 to the control group. Cereal-based ORS solutions were found to shorten the duration of diarrhoea and to reduce both the stool volume and the frequency of diarrhoea and vomiting as well as the mean total ORS intake. These effects were more marked with the sorghum-based ORS than with the rice-based ORS. By the end of day 3, 50% of patients in the rice ORS group and 67.6% in the sorghum ORS group had recovered compared with 40% from the standard ORS group.

Child, Preschool↗

Automatic headspace sampling for determination of ethylene dibromide residues in cereals.

The possibility was investigated to apply a commercially available automatic head-space sampler in trace analysis of ethylene dibromide (EDB, 1,2-dibromoethane), in cereals. Samples of rice and wheat flour were thermostatted in closed vials at 70 degrees C for 30 min. The top gas was then automatically introduced into a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector. Quantitation was performed using external standards (untreated samples spiked with solutions of EDB in N,N'-dimethylacetamide). The relative standard deviation of the method was 3.4% for rice and 4.5% for wheat flour, at a residue level of 0.008 mg/kg. The detection limit was 0.001 mg/kg (the official EC residue tolerance is 0.01 mg/kg). Preliminary experiments with other fumigants were carried out as well. The headspace technique in question has the following advantages over other methods for determining EDB residues in cereals: 1. No sample pre-treatment like extraction, steam distillation, purge and trap etc.; 2. Automated sample handling; 3. "Clean" chromatograms.

Autoanalysis↗

Effects of weaning cereals with different phytate content on growth, development and morbidity: a randomized intervention trial in infants from 6 to 12 months of age.

BACKGROUND: Phytate decreases iron and zinc bioavailability and contributes to deficiencies of iron and zinc, potentially causing anaemia, poor psychomotor development, impaired growth and increased risk of diarrhoea and respiratory infections. AIM: To investigate whether a reduced dietary intake of phytate, either via extensively phytate-reduced infant cereals [milk cereal drinks (MCDs) and porridge] or a milk-based infant formula, would improve growth and development and reduce morbidity in infants. DESIGN: Infants (n = 300) were, in a double-blind design, randomized to three diet intervention groups from 6 to 12 mo of age-commercial MCD and porridge (CC group), phytate-reduced MCD and phytate-reduced porridge (PR group), or milkbased infant formula and porridge with regular phytate content (IF group)-then followed until 18 mo. Dietary intake, anthropometry, development (Bayley Scales of Infant Development) and episodes of infectious diseases were registered. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between study groups in growth, development or morbidity until 12 mo of age. The IF group had a 77% higher risk (95% CI: 1.05-2.97) of diarrhoea compared to the PR group during the 12-17-mo period. Infants with haemoglobin concentration (Hb) < 110 g/l at 12 mo had lower attained weight at 18 mo (11.14 kg vs 11.73 kg, p = 0.012). Infants with serum zinc (S-Zn) <10.7 pmol/l at 12 mo had higher risk of respiratory infections (RR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.19-2.56) compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Phytate reduction had no effect on growth, development or incidence of diarrhoeal or respiratory infections. Infants with low Hb or low S-Zn may be at higher risk of poor growth and respiratory infections, even in this high-income population.

Anthropometry↗

Inter-relationship between electrophoretic characteristics of pseudocereal and cereal proteins and their microscopic structure for possible substitution based on nutritional evaluation.

Amaranth, soybean and maize were screened for proteins and their nutritional value. Isopropanol-soluble protein and buffer-soluble protein fractions were extracted from seeds and separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The comparison of the identity and differences between investigated plants was carried out by the obtained SDS-PAGE electrophoretic patterns, and their microstructure was determined by scanning electron microscopy. Electrophoretic patterns of extracted proteins have shown that the main protein subunits were concentrated between 10 and 50 kDa. Variations were found in major fractions and minor bands as well as in the fine structure. The microstructure of pseudocereal and cereal protein fractions was inter-related with the results obtained by their electrophoretic separation. Pseudocereal amaranth can be used as a nutritive substitute of cereal maize in functional foods.

2-Propanol↗

Cereal sprouts: composition, nutritive value, food applications.

The practice of sprouting of cereal grains has become popular in the western world. Sprouted grains are thought of as having exceptional nutritive value. Sprouting is easy and can be done without sophisticated equipment. Untreated seeds of good quality and high germination percentage are placed in an environment of adequate water, a desirable temperature, and a certain composition of gases in the atmosphere for several days for sprouting. The sprouts can be kept for a few days to over a week under refrigeration. They can be used in many different foods including breakfast items, salads, soups, casseroles, pasta, and baked products. Sprouting of grains causes increased enzyme activity, a loss of total dry matter, an increase in total protein, a change in amino acid composition, a decrease in starch, increases in sugars, a slight increase in crude fat and crude fiber, and slightly higher amounts of certain vitamins and minerals. Most of the increases in nutrients are not true increases, however. They simply reflect the loss of dry matter, mainly in the form of carbohydrates, due to respiration during sprouting. As total carbohydrates decreases, the percentage of other nutrients increases. There are no nutritional evaluations of cereal sprouts in humans. Animal studies with cattle, pigs, chickens, and rats have failed to show a superior nutritive value of sprouted grains over ungerminated grains. Studies with humans are not likely to produce more encouraging results.

Amino Acids↗

[The effect of pelleting cereal straw with NaOH-addition on rumen fermentation in cows].

Experiments with rumen-fistulated dairy cows were performed to study the effect of NaOH-addition to cereal pellets. Compared to straw-concentrate rations in which the straw pellets were free of NaOH, cereal straw pellets containing 2.4 kg NaOH per 100 kg straw caused the rumenal pH to go up from 6.21 to 6.47, the cellulotlytic activity to rise by some 20%, and the passage turnover rate of dry matter to increase from 0,039 to 0,056. The concentrations of volatile fatty acids and the fermentation patterns were not influenced by the NaOH-content of the pellets. It is concluded that NaOH-addition during straw pelleting has a favourable effect on digestion in the bovine rumen.

Animals↗

Stress protein CSP 310 causes oxidation and phosphorylation uncoupling during low-temperature stress only in cereal but not in dycotyledon mitochondria.

It was found that an addition of antiserum obtained against stress protein 310 kD increased coupling of oxidation and phosphorylation in mitochondria isolated from cold-stress winter rye shoots and had no influence on dycotiledon mitochondria (pumpkins and sunflower). The data obtained showed a difference between molecular weights of dycotyledon polypeptides with immunochemical affinity to CSP 310 and CSP 310 subunits. It was shown that low-temperaturestress caused a transition to a low-energy state ("cold uncoupling") of free from endogenous free fatty acid cereal mitochondria. At the same time, this "cold uncoupling" in mitochondria of dycotyledon species investigated was not detected. We suppose that a special mechanism of low-temperature stress reaction in mitochondria dealing with uncoupling activity of stress protein CSP 310 exists in cereals.

Blotting, Western↗