Vitamin A (retinol and retinyl esters) is present in substantial amounts in the urine of healthy adult dogs, but the mechanisms affecting its excretion are poorly understood. To assess whether the onset of urinary vitamin A excretion is dependent on dietary vitamin A intake, breed, and/or parameters of kidney function, 48 puppies from two breeds, the Labrador Retriever and the Miniature Schnauzer were included. Dogs were given four diets with increasing vitamin A content (5000; 12,500; 75,000 and 100,000 IU vitamin A/1000 kcal metabolizable energy). Plasma and urine samples were collected and the onset of a continuous vitamin A excretion in urine was determined for each dog. Vitamin A concentration was determined by HPLC. Concentrations of creatinine, urea, protein and albumin were determined by colorimetric assays. Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) were measured by semiquantitative Western blot. Plasma vitamin A concentrations increased with increased dietary vitamin A intake (p < 0.001), but the onset of urinary vitamin A excretion (p = 0.158) and the amount of vitamin A excreted at this time point were not different between the feeding groups (p = 0.128) or breed (p = 0.279). Concentrations of creatinine, urea, protein and albumin in plasma and protein in urine were not different between groups. There were no differences in the concentrations of RBP4 in plasma (p = 0.309), RBP4 in urine (p = 0.345) and THP in urine (p = 0.384). The onset of vitamin A excretion in the urine of dogs seems to be not directly associated with the plasma vitamin A concentration and, thus not simply explained by dietary vitamin A intake alone. The vitamin A excretion is not breed specific and not dependent on kidney function or the occurrence of transport proteins in plasma (RBP4) or urine (THP). Thus, the onset and the amount of vitamin A excreted are determined by factors that remain to be elucidated.

Background Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has a severe impact on all aspects of patient care. Among the numerous biomarkers of potential validity for diagnostic and clinical management of COVID-19 are biomarkers at the interface of iron metabolism and inflammation. Methods The follow-up study included 54 hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 with a moderate and severe/critical form of the disease. Iron deficiency specific biomarkers such as iron, ferritin, transferrin receptor, hepcidin, and zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) as well as relevant markers of inflammation were evaluated twice: in the first five days when the patient was admitted to the hospital and during five to 15 days; and their validity to diagnose iron deficiency was further assessed. The regression and Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analyses were performed to evaluate the prognosis and determine the probability for predicting the severity of the disease in the first five days of COVID-19. Results Based on hemoglobin values, anemia was observed in 21 of 54 patients. Of all iron deficiency anemia-related markers, only ZnPP was significantly elevated (P<0.001) in the anemic group. When patients were grouped according to the severity of disease, slight differences in hemoglobin or other anemia-related parameters could be observed. However, the levels of ZnPP were significantly increased in the severely ill group of patients. The ratio of ZnPP to lymphocyte count (ZnPP/L) had a discrimination power stronger than the neutrophil to lymphocyte count ratio (N/L) to determine disease severity. Additionally, only two markers were independently associated with the severity of COVID-19 in logistic regression analysis; D-dimer (OR (5.606)(95% CI 1.019-30.867)) and ZnPP/L ratio (OR (74.313) (95% CI 1.081-5108.103)). Conclusions For the first time ZnPP in COVID-19 patients were reported in this study. Among all iron-related markers tested, ZnPP was the only one that was associated with anemia as based on hemoglobin. The increase in ZnPP might indicate that the underlying cause of anemia in COVID-19 patients is not only due to the inflammation but also of nutritional origin. Additionally, the ZnPP/L ratio might be a valid prognostic marker for the severity of COVID-19.

The α-amylase/trypsin inhibitors (ATIs) are discussed as being responsible for non-celiac wheat sensitivity (NCWS), besides being known as allergenic components for baker’s asthma. Different approaches for characterization and quantification including proteomics-based methods for wheat ATIs have been documented. In these studies generally the major ATIs have been addressed. The challenge of current study was then to develop a more comprehensive workflow encompassing all reviewed wheat-ATI entries in UniProt database. To substantially test proof of concept, 46 German and Turkish wheat samples were used. Two extractions systems based on chloroform/methanol mixture (CM) and under buffered denaturing conditions were evaluated. Three aspects were optimized, tryptic digestion, chromatographic separation, and targeted tandem mass spectrometric analysis (HPLC-MS/MS). Preliminary characterization with sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) documented the purity of the extracted ATIs with CM mixture and the amylase (60–80%)/trypsin (10–20%) inhibition demonstrated the bifunctional activity of ATIs. Thirteen (individual/common) biomarkers were established. Major ATIs (7–34%) were differently represented in samples. Finally, to our knowledge, the proposed HPLC-MS/MS method allowed for the first time so far the analysis of all 14 reviewed wheat ATI entries reported.

Childhood malnutrition is a current and perpetual public health concern in many African countries. Challenges remain the difficulty in formulating nutritionally adequate diets. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Dioscorea schimperiana flesh color on nutritional composition and antioxidant activity of formulated yam based complementary food. Flours from dried yam slices bought on local market were fortified with soybean and groundnut paste to develop a balanced diet. Carrot and egg shell were added as reinforcing sources of micronutrients. The nutritional content and antioxidant properties of the flour blends were then assessed. Results indicate the flour blendes satisfy the recommended energy and macronutrients requirements according to set standards. Thus the flour blends can be used for managing protein-energy malnutrition. They can also offer health benefits due the composition of many bioactive compounds. The amount of carotenoids, alpha-tocopherol, total phenols, zinc and iron in yam-based formulations depended on the color of the yam flesh. Beta carotene was the major carotenoid present. The yellow-fleshed yam flour blend had the highest content (10 mg/100 g) of polyphenolic compounds but comparatively lower antioxidant activity. In contrary, yellow-fleshed with red dots flour blend had the highest antioxidant activity (0.218 M Trolox equivalents/100 g) and the lowest content (8 mg/100 g) of the responsive bioactive compounds. The red-fleshed yam based complementary food had the highest content in these micronutrients. Feeding 6-11 months old children with yam-based complementary food would satisfy 23-77.4% of the 200 mu g daily minimum suggested reference retinol activity intake of vitamin A and 8.20-30.48% of the 2.5 mg alpha-tocopherol requirement. At this stage of growth, yam based complementary food would satisfy 68-100% of the average daily minimum reference intake of zinc and 63-100% of iron daily requirements according to the daily serving portion needed to satisfy the 200-550 energy requirement. Taking into consideration their contribution in meeting the micronutrients daily intake suggested reference values; the weaning flour is most suitable for a 12-23 month old child. (C) 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of African Institute of Mathematical Sciences / Next Einstein Initiative.

Fast and easy tests for quantifying fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin E and vitamin A, as well as β-carotene, in whole blood without a need to preprocess blood samples could facilitate assessment of the vitamin status of dairy cattle. The objective of this study was to validate a field-portable fluorometer/spectrophotometer assay for the rapid quantification of these vitamins in whole blood and plasma of dairy cows and calves. We measured the concentrations of vitamin E and β-carotene in whole blood and plasma from 28 dairy cows and 11 calves using the iCheck test (BioAnalyt GmbH, Teltow, Germany) and compared the results with the current analytical standard (HPLC) in 2 independent laboratories, one at the University of Potsdam (Germany) and at one at DSM Nutritional Products Ltd. (Kaiseraugst, Switzerland). For vitamin A, the HPLC measurements were done only in the laboratory in Germany. The whole-blood concentrations of vitamin E as determined by iCheck (blood-hematocrit-corrected) ranged from 1.82 to 4.99 mg/L in dairy cows and 0.34 to 3.40 mg/L in calves. These findings were moderately correlated (R2 = 0.66) with the values assessed by HPLC in dairy cattle (cows + calves). When calves were excluded, the correlation was higher (R2 = 0.961). The β-carotene and vitamin A values obtained by the reference method HPLC were highly correlated with the iCheck methods in whole blood (R2 = 0.99 and 0.88, respectively). In plasma, we observed strong correlations between the concentrations assessed by iCheck and those of HPLC for vitamin E (R2 = 0.97), β-carotene (R2 = 0.98), and vitamin A (R2 = 0.92) in dairy cattle (cows + calves). For vitamin E, β-carotene, and vitamin A, we compared the relationship between the differences obtained by the iCheck assay and the HPLC measurements, as well as the magnitude of measurements, using Bland-Altman plots to test for systematic bias. For all 3 vitamins, the differences values were not outside the 95% acceptability limits; we found no systematic error between the 2 methods for all 3 analytes.

Les maladies cardiovasculaires sont l'une des premières causes de mortalité et d'invalidité dont la principale cause est l'hyperlipidémie. L'évaluation des effets hypolipidémiants de l'huile du poisson Pseudotholithus senegalensis sur des rattes rendues dyslipidémiques a été faite. Vingt-quatre rattes adultes de souche Wistar ont été réparties en 4 groupes : Groupe 1 ayant reçu le régime standard de laboratoire (RSL), les groupe 2, groupe 3 et groupe 4 ont reçu le régime standard de laboratoire plus le jaune d'oeuf bouilli (5g/jr/ratte) pendant 120 jours. Après ces 4 mois, et pendant 18 jours, le groupe 3 est retourné au RSL uniquement et le groupe 4 a reçu le RSL plus de l'huile de Pseudotolithus senegalensis à la dose de 1g/jr/Kg de poids corporel. Les foies, poumons, reins et coeur ont été prélevés, pesés et observés. Les paramètres lipidiques sanguins ont été dosés. Le régime hyperlipidique a créé des augmentations significatives (p<0,05) des cholestérolémies et triglycéridémie, a induit également une obésité et des désordres tissulaires dans les groupes 2, 3 et 4. L'huile de P. senegalensis administrée aux rattes a réduit significativement (p<0,05) les taux des cholestérols total (46,72%), LDL (67,12%) et triglycérides (65,60%) et a augmenté non significativement (p>0,05) le taux de cholestérol-HDL (25,36%) dans le groupe 4 par rapport au groupe 2 et de 28,75% (CT), 53,76% (LDL), 39,74% (TG) par rapport au groupe 3. Cette supplémentation à l'huile de P. senegalensis a également entrainé une baisse de surpoids au groupe 4 par rapport aux groupes 2 et 3, une importante diminution des oedèmes et de l'inflammation au niveau des organes cibles. L'huile de Pseudotolithus senegalensis peut être utilisée dans la lutte contre la dyslipidémie.© 2017 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Mots clés: Pseudotolithus senegalensis, Rattus norvegicus, dyslipidémie, hypocholestérolémie, hypotriglycéridémieEnglish Title: Evaluation of hypolipidemic effects of oil extracted of fish Pseudotolithus senegalensis on dyslipidemic female ratsEnglish AbstractCardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death and disability, the main cause of which is hyperlipidemia. This study aimed at evaluating effects of Pseudotolithus senegalensis's oil on rats induced dyslipidemia. Twenty four female adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group 1 fed with standard laboratory diet (SLD); groups 2, 3 and 4 fed for 120 days with SLD supplemented with cooked egg yolk (5g/day/rat). Four months later, group 3 was fed for 18 days with SLD and group 4 with SLD supplemented with Pseudotolithus senegalensis's oil (1g/day/kg of body mass). Liver, heart, kidney and lung were later removed, weighted and observed. Plasma lipid profile were also estimated. Results showed that hyperlipidemic diet induced hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, obesity and tissue disorders in groups 2, 3 and 4. Administration of the P. senegalensis's oils significantly (p˂0.05) decreased total-cholesterol (46.72%), cholesterol-LDL (67.12%), triglycerides (65.60%) but increased cholesterol-HDL (25.36%) in group 4 compared with group 2. Supplementation with the fish's oil resulted significantly the drop of total-cholesterol (28.75%), cholesterol-LDL (53.75%), triglyceride (39.74%), and increased levels of cholesterol-HDL (15.37%) in group 4 compared with group 3. P. senegalensis's oil also reduced body mass, fat's deposits, oedema and tissue inflammation. Therefore, P. senegalensis's oil has a hypolipidaemic effect and can be used to manage dyslipidemia.© 2017 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Pseudotolithus senegalensis; Rattus norvegicus; dyslipidemia; hypocholesterolemia; hypotriglyceridemia

Callianassa turnerana, called Cameroon ghost shrimps is shrimp with a great sociocultural interest in Cameroon. This study assessed proximate composition and micronutrients contents of Callianassa turnerana from the Wouri estuary in Cameroon. Adult shrimps were collected. The proximate composition, mineral, carotenoids and vitamin E contents were determined in edible parts (male and female) and in eggs of C. turnerana using official analytical methods. One way ANOVA and Fisher’s post hoc PLS test was used to analyze the data. The moisture content were 66±1.5%, 62 ±2.85%, 49.0 ±1.60% in edible parts of male, female and in eggs respectively. Protein contents were high in all the samples ranging from 10.49±0.92% in male edible parts to 30.06±0.89% in eggs. Lipid contents were more than 12% in all samples. Carbohydrate were absent in eggs while the contents were 9.92±0.99% in male and 12.23±0.81% in female edible parts. C. turnerana is a good source of minerals. Sodium (0.983±0.001%- 1.656±0.005%) and Phosphorus (0.974±0.002%-1.321±0.002%) were the main macro elements in all samples. Zn was the major microelement in edible parts with the value ranged from 6.43±0.49mg/100g (male) to 7.62±0.35mg/100g (female) while Cu was the major microelement (10.15±3.57mg/100g) in eggs. High levels of total carotenoids (7.9-15.45µg/g) and vitamin E (12.53-24.03µg/g) were recorded. The main carotenoids were β-caroten (0.637-1.337µg/g) followed by α-caroten (0.216-0.437µg/g). C. turnerana is a good source of many major nutrients and micronutrients and could be used to combat malnutrition and improve health.

Background There is scant information on the breastmilk vitamin A (BMVA) concentration of lactating women in developing countries, partly due to lack of methods applicable in-field. Objective To assess BMVA concentrations of samples collected from lactating women of children aged 6–23 months, in Mecha district, Ethiopia. Subjects/methods Data on socio-demographic and anthropometric characteristics were collected from randomly selected lactating women ( n = 104). Breast milk samples were collected and vitamin A concentrations were analyzed using HPLC and iCheck FLUORO then the two measurements were compared. Results The prevalence of underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m 2 ) among lactating women was 17%. Seventy six percent of the BMVA values were <1.05 µmol/l and 81% were <8 µg/g fat. The mean BMVA concentration accounted to 41% of the estimated average value for mothers in developing countries. The BMVA values from HPLC and iCheck were correlated ( r = 0.59, p = < 0.001), but it was not strong. Conclusions The result indicates the low vitamin A status of the lactating women and their children. It further indicates that intake assessments should not use average BMVA composition. The possibility of using iCheck for monitoring interventions designed to improve vitamin A status of lactating women with low BMVA requires further investigation.

Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4), a protein secreted by adipocytes and bound in plasma to transthyretin (TTR), has been associated with obesity, the early phase of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The objective of this study was to elucidate the relationship between RBP4, TTR, triglyceride (TG) and type 2 diabetes risk in rural Thailand.

Aim: To investigate the relationship of vitamin D-binding protein (GC) and genetic variation of GC (rs4588, rs7041 and rs2282679) with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the Thai population. Materials & methods: GCglobulin concentrations were measured by quantitative western blot analysis in 401 adults. All participants were genotyped using TaqMan allelic discrimination assays. Results: GC-globulin levels were significatly lower in MetS subjects than in control subjects, in which significant negative correlations of GC-globulin levels with systolic blood pressure, glucose and age were found. Male participants who carried the GT genotype for rs4588 showed an increased risk of MetS compared with the GG wild-type (odds ratio: 3.25; p = 0.004). Conclusion: GC-globulin concentrations and variation in GC rs4588 were supported as a risk factor for MetS in Thais.

Background and Objective: The citizens of developing countries are not interested about the quality of egg but only quantity so the knowledge regarding the quality of the commercial eggs are limited, although it would be a good source of micronutrients.This study was aimed to evaluate the physical and chemical quality of the egg.Methodology: Considering the fact a number of 100 eggs was collected from five different commercial poultry farms (20 from each farm).Feed was also collected simultaneously to analysis the proximate components and carotenoid fractions.Physical properties of whole egg (weight and shape index), egg shell (shell % and shell thickness), albumen (height, index and haugh unit) and yolk (height and index) were determined.The visual color was assessed using a Hoffmann La Roche yolk fan (0-15, where higher values indicate a darker color) and three co-ordinates parameters representing the lightness, redness and yellowness of the color was assessed by Minolta Chroma Meter (CR-300, Minolta Camera Co., Ltd.Japan).Egg yolk was analyzed for total carotenoids using iCheck ( ™ ) (BioAnalyt GmbH, Germany).The HPLC was used to assess different component of caroenoids, retinol and "-tocopherol.Results: The proximate components of feeds varied from different sources but remained within the range of standard feed for laying hens.The concentration of carotenoid components (lutein, zeaxanthin, $-cryptoxanthin and $-carotene) of different feeds was very low and their sum varied from 1.12-3.02mg kgG 1 feed.The physical property, color, total carotenoid, retinol and tochopherol contents of eggs from different farms varied significantly.Conclusion: The micronutrients namely carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, $-cryptoxanthin and $-carotene), retinol and tocopherol in egg yolk were found to be very low in concentration which is a reflection of their content in feed.So, it is clear that the commercial farmers in a developing country do not compromise with the macro nutrients but ignored the micronutrients content in feeds.

Obesity is a key component of equine metabolic syndrome, which is highly associated with laminitis. Feed restriction and/or exercise are known to alleviate the detrimental effects of insulin resistance in obese ponies. However, little is known about changes in the serum lipid patterns due to weight reduction and its association with disease outcomes. Therefore, the lipid patterns in the serum of 14 mature ponies before and after a 14-week body weight reduction program (BWRP) were investigated by multi-one-dimensional thin-layer chromatography (MOD-TLC). Additionally, sensitivity to insulin (SI), body condition scores (BCS) and cresty neck scores (CNS) were measured. A BWRP resulted in a significant loss of body weight (P<0.001), which was associated with beneficial decreases in BCS and CNS (both, P<0.001). Serum lipid compositions revealed significantly increased free fatty acid (FFA), sphingomyelin (SM; both P<0.001), total cholesterol (C) and cholesterol ester (CE) (both P<0.01) and triacylglycerol (TG; P<0.05) densities. Improvement of SI after the BWRP was associated with increases in neutral lipids (C, CE and TG, all P<0.01), FFA and the phospholipid SM (both, P<0.001). The results show that a BWRP in obese ponies was effective and associated with changes in the concentrations of neutral lipids and the phospholipid SM, indicating that SM may play a role in insulin signaling pathways and thus in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and the progression of metabolic syndrome in obese ponies.

Crude palm oil (CPO), an ingredient with a high content in provitamins A, is usually consumed associated with foods that could affect carotenoids metabolism. This work aimed to evaluate the influence of foodstuffs prepared with the incorporation of CPO on carotenoids absorption. Thus, we studied carotenoids bioavailability in Cameroonian local meals based on CPO and three different foodstuffs: maize (Zea mais), cassava (Manihot esculente) or black eyed peas (Vigna unguiculata). Modified ‘yellow sauce’ prepared mainly with CPO was used as control meal. Eleven healthy volunteers with age range between 20-30 year and similar body mass index were submitted to the study. A total of four interventions (i.e., meal ingestion) were performed every six days. After meal ingestion blood samples were collected at 0, 2, 4 and 6 h, and carotenoids content were analyzed by HPLC. Results showed that control meal had the highest carotenoids absorption (0.479±0.063 µg.h/ml.), followed by maize (0.329±0.115 µg.h/ml) and cassava (0.141±0.075 µg.h/ml) cakes. Food based on black eyed peas incorporated with CPO showed the smallest increase in blood carotenoids (0.053±0.062 µg.h/ml). Notably, CPO consumption leads to a short term significant increase of blood carotenoids (p<0.05) that declines over time. Our results suggest that the association of CPO with different foodstuffs significantly affects carotenoids bioavailability. This effect seems to be more important for leguminous, followed by tubers and cereals.

Plasma concentration of retinol is an accepted indicator to assess the vitamin A (retinol) status in cattle. However, the determination of vitamin A requires a time consuming multi-step procedure, which needs specific equipment to perform extraction, centrifugation or saponification prior to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Lutein is an essential dietary carotenoid with health benefits and is inter alia responsible for the colouration of egg yolk. The relationship between lutein accumulation and egg yolk colouration was therefore studied in more detail. After feeding a low-luteine diet for 21 days, 14 birds (Lohmann brown hens aged 20 weeks) were fed a diet containing marigold (80 mg lutein/kg feed) and 14 other birds were fed a diet containing oleoresin (45 mg lutein/kg feed) for 21 days; for both groups of birds, this feeding period was followed by withdrawal for 21 days. The Roche Yolk Colour Fan (RYCF) score (0 to 15, where higher values denote greater colour intensity; R2=0.87; P<0.01) and redness (R2=0.89; P<0.01) increased with increasing lutein content of egg yolk. Total carotenoid content had a poor relationship with lightness (R2=0.13; P>0.05) and yellowness (R2=0.12; P>0.05) of the yolk. It may be concluded that increased lutein is potentially responsible for an increased RYCF score and redness (a*), but decreased yellowness (b*) and lightness (L*), of egg yolk.

In sub-Saharan Africa, infectious diseases and malnutrition constitute the main health problems in children, while adolescents and adults are increasingly facing cardio-metabolic conditions. Among adolescents as the largest population group in this region, we investigated the co-occurrence of infectious diseases, malnutrition and cardio-metabolic risk factors (CRFs), and evaluated demographic, socio-economic and medical risk factors for these entities. In a cross-sectional study among 188 adolescents in rural Ghana, malarial infection, common infectious diseases and Body Mass Index were assessed. We measured ferritin, C-reactive protein, retinol, fasting glucose and blood pressure. Socio-demographic data were documented. We analyzed the proportions (95% confidence interval, CI) and the cooccurrence of infectious diseases (malaria, other common diseases), malnutrition (underweight, stunting, iron deficiency, vitamin A deficiency [VAD]), and CRFs (overweight, obesity, impaired fasting glucose, hypertension). In logistic regression, odds ratios (OR) and 95% CIs were calculated for the associations with socio-demographic factors. In this Ghanaian population (age range, 14.4-15.5 years; males, 50%), the proportions were for infectious diseases 45% (95% CI: 38-52%), for malnutrition 50% (43-57%) and for CRFs 16% (11- 21%). Infectious diseases and malnutrition frequently co-existed (28%; 21-34%). Specifically, VAD increased the odds of non-malarial infectious diseases 3-fold (95% CI: 1.03, 10.19). Overlap of CRFs with infectious diseases (6%; 2-9%) or with malnutrition (7%; 3-11%) was also present. Male gender and low socio-economic status increased the odds of infectious diseases and malnutrition, respectively. Malarial infection, chronic malnutrition and VAD remain the predominant health problems among these Ghanaian adolescents. Investigating the relationships with evolving CRFs is warranted.

Background and Objective: In developing countries consumers and producers do not considere an egg for internal quality, but it would be a good source of micronutrients including carotenoids.This study was conducted to obtain information on the carotenoid content and its different components of egg yolk of some poultry species.Methodology: To evaluate the situation 120 eggs were collected from (1) Native chicken (scavenging), (2) Native chicken (semi intensive), (3) Zending duck (semi intensive), (4) Fayoumi chicken (intensive), (5) White-cross chicken (intensive) and ( 6) White Leghorn chicken (intensive).After breaking the eggs and removing the albumen, the yolk content taken and mixed properly.The visual colour was assessed using a Hoffmann La Roche yolk fan (0 to 15, where higher values as higher colour) and three co-ordinate colour parameters (L-lightness, a*-redness and b*-yellowness) measured by Minolta Chroma Meter.Egg yolk was analysed for total carotenoids following iCheck ( ™ ) and AOAC methods.Quantification of lutein, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, apo-ester, $-carotene and their isomers done by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).Results: It was found that the commercial diets contained very low amounts of carotenoid components (0.18, 0.27, 0.07 and 0.03 mg kgG 1 lutein, zeaxanthin, $-cryptoxanthin and $-carotene, respectively), which also reflected in the colour parameters (RYCFS: 7; L*: 56; a*: -0.15 and b*: 34) of egg yolk.In general, the carotenoid status of yolk from different feeding system varies significantly (21.4 to 34.3 mg kgG 1 yolk), but eggs from scavenging and semi intensive birds found to be rich in lutein (8.0-11.8mg kgG 1 yolk).Alternatively, eggs from intensive birds contained higher amount of zeaxanthin (4.9-6.3 mg kgG 1 yolk).Values obtained iCheck was slightly lower than AOAC method but found higher than obtained by HPLC although their relationship found to be 0.95 and 0.91 with iCheck data.Conclusion: Therefore, it may concluded that the egg yolk of scavenging and semi intensive birds would be good source of lutein; however, carotenoid content especially lutein concentration in the diets for commercial birds should increase to enrich the carotenoid status of eggs which would be assessed by simple, cost effective and laboratory independent iCheck ( ™ ) method.

To study the role of the TTR-RBP4-ROH complex components (transthyretin, serum retinol binding protein, retinol) and of angiogenic factors PlGF (placental growth factor) and sFlt-1 (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1) in pregnancies complicated by small for gestational age infants (SGA).

Despite high-dose vitamin A supplementation of very low birth weight infants (VLBW, <1500 g), their vitamin A status does not improve substantially. Unknown is the impact of urinary retinol excretion on the serum retinol concentration in these infants. Therefore, the effect of high-dose vitamin A supplementation on the urinary vitamin A excretion in VLBW infants was investigated. Sixty-three VLBW infants were treated with vitamin A (5000 IU intramuscular, 3 times/week for 4 weeks); 38 untreated infants were classified as control group. On days 3 and 28 of life, retinol, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), glomerular filtration rate, proteinuria, and Tamm–Horsfall protein were quantified in urine. On day 3 of life, substantial retinol and RBP4 losses were found in both groups, which significantly decreased until day 28. Notwithstanding, the retinol excretion was higher (P < 0.01) under vitamin A supplementation as compared to infants of the control group. On day 28 of life, the urinary retinol concentrations were predictive for serum retinol concentrations in the vitamin A treated (P < 0.01), but not in the control group (P = 0.570).