Concentrations of six trace elements [chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As)] were assessed in 'non-piscine protein source' foodstuffs (meat, milk and eggs) to evaluate contamination level and human health risks in Bangladesh. The range of Cr, Ni, Cu, Cd, Pb and As in the investigated foodstuffs was 1.24-2.17, 1.29-2.56, 0.92-2.31, 0.12-0.44, 0.15-0.48 and 0.14-0.57 mg kg fresh weight(-1), respectively. The estimated mean levels of most of the elements were higher than the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) for dietary foods. The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of Cr and Cd were higher than the maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI) for children, indicating that they are more susceptible to toxic elements through food consumption. The target hazard quotients (THQs) and target carcinogenic risk (TCR) of As (THQ > 1 and TCR > 10(-4)) for both the adults and children suggest that the consumers of non-piscine foodstuffs (especially cow milk and chicken meat) are exposed chronically to metal pollution with carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health consequences.

The results of the present study implies that the analyzed plants possess varying degree of antioxidant capacity and, therefore, the antioxidant potency of these underused plants may be utilized to prevent oxidative damage and oxidative stress related disorders.

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Polyphenols in many plant foods have received a great deal of attention due to their biological potency and postulated protective role against certain non-communicable diseases like cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and cardiovascular disease. The current study focuses on 15 indigenous plants which are traditionally being used for medicinal and other purposes in Bangladesh. Specifically, this study aimed to determine the total phenolic content (TPC), profile the polyphenolic composition, and assess the antioxidant capacity (AC) of water and methanol extracts derived from these plants. The TPC was estimated using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and DPPH inhibition was used to assess the AC. HPLC-centered simultaneous determination method of polyphenols was employed to identify and quantify individual polyphenolic compounds. TPC content (expressed as mg GAE/100 g FW) ranged from 15.5 (Zanthoxylum rhetsa) to 276.9 (Moringa oleifera). The lowest IC50 in the water and methanol extracts were shown by Moringa oleifera and Zanthoxylum rhetsa respectively and they also exhibited high free radical scavenging activity in the corresponding solvents (91.9% and 92.9% DPPH inhibition by Moringa oleifera and Zanthoxylum rhetsa respectively). The lowest DPPH inhibition was observed in Alternanthera philoxeroides (29.8%) and Spilanthes calva (24.5%) in the water and methanol extracts respectively. Ten polyphenols (coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, apigenin, apigenin-7-O-neohesperidoside, quercetin-3-β-D-glucoside, luteolin, quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, isorhamnetin and kaempferol) were initially identified and subsequently quantified in the plant extracts. Spilanthes calva, Moringa oleifera, Oxalis corniculata, and Piper retrofractum contained the highest amount of coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid, apigenin, caffeic acid and apigenin-7-O-neohesperidoside respectively. Senna tora had the greatest amount of kaempferol, quercetin-3-β-D-glucoside, and isorhamnetin whereas luteolin and quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside were observed to be the maximum in Alternanthera sessilis. To conclude, Moringa oleifera and Senna tora with high percentage of DPPH inhibition and low IC50 were the most potent antioxidant sources among the analyzed samples. Bioresearch Commu. 7(1): 947-954, 2021 (January)

Adults in the United States are increasingly following ‘popular’ diet patterns that restrict food groups, macronutrients, or eating time. However, the intake of food groups associated with these diet patterns has not been well characterized. The objectives of this study were to (1) characterize the mean intake of food groups among consumers of popular diet patterns in the US, and (2) model the effect of targeted food substitutions on the intake of food groups. Data were acquired from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005–2018 (n = 34,411). A diet model was developed to assess the effects of replacing one serving each of foods highest in added sugar, sodium, saturated fat, and refined grains with healthy alternatives on the intake of key food groups for each diet pattern. Modeled replacement resulted in increased intake of fruit and whole grains and decreased intake of dairy for most diet patterns, while the effects on the intake of vegetables, protein foods, and oils were variable across diet patterns. The complexity of the natural eating environment, in which many people consume mixed dishes that include both healthy and less healthy ingredients, produces a challenge for health professionals when providing dietary counseling. Nevertheless, this substitution approach may help improve adherence to dietary guidelines, especially if used as a steppingstone for further dietary improvement.