Search Results (6)

In order to achieve sustainable development of the tea industry in China, it is necessary to reduce the use of chemical fertiliser rationally. With conventional fertilisation (CF) treatment as the control, five different chemical fertiliser-reduced regimes, including tea-specific formula fertiliser (T1), T1 + acidification amendment (T2), organic substitution based on T1 (T3), urea formaldehyde slow-release fertiliser (T4) and carbon-based organic fertiliser (T5), were conducted and evaluated on a green tea plantation from 2018 to 2021. The results showed that the spring tea yield of T1–T5 increased by 4.65–28.67%, while the free amino acids, tea polyphenols and sensory evaluation scores did not remarkably decrease. In addition, the T1–T5 treatments had a slight effect on soil acidification mitigation (except T2) and maintained the essential nutrients for tea production. Nutrient use efficiency improved, with agronomic efficiency (AE) increasing by 0.01–0.08 kg kg⁻¹, shoot nutrient use efficiency (NUE) by 0.14–0.70% and partial factor productivity (PFP) by 0.05–0.18 kg kg⁻¹. The net economic benefits also improved, with T1 showing a 135.28% increase, followed by T3 (67.53%), T2 (48.65%), T4 (38.07%) and T5 (33.35%). Overall, our results indicated that the T1 treatment could maintain the tea yield and quality while reducing the chemical fertiliser input and maximising the net economic benefit and AE. Full article

Follow-on formulas are necessary for newborns that are unable to breastfeed. Thus, the development of formulas more tailored to infants’ needs is highly important. Recently, using camel milk, goat milk, and sweet milk whey in the formulation of follow-on formulas has gained researchers’ attention. Moreover, developing postbiotic systems to create formulas that mimic human milk, are easy to digest, improve compatibility with an infant’s gut, and boost immunity is crucial. Thus, this study aimed to create and assess different formulations using fermented whey from camel and goat milks. The fermentation process involved the use of Lactobacillus helveticus as a probiotic and proteolytic lactic acid bacterium strain. The study monitored the proteolytic activity and antioxidant properties of sweet whey produced from cow, camel, and goat milks during the fermentation process with L. helveticus. Also, three different milk fat blends were recombined using edible vegetable oils (coconut oil, rice bran oil, and canola oil) and then they were used to formulate follow-on formulas with a similar fat composition to human milk. Finally, the prepared formulas were tested for their in vitro digestibility and antioxidant activity before and after digestion. The L. helveticus strain had high proteolytic activity towards whey proteins from all the types of milk used in the study. A fermentation time of 6 h produced a higher proteolytic degree and antioxidant activity than 2 and 4 h of fermentation. No significant differences were observed for proteolytic degree and antioxidant activity between 6 and 12 h of fermentation for the cow, camel, and goat whey samples. Regarding the fat blends, animal milk fat, rice bran oil, and canola oil in a fat combination were essential to provide the required amount of unsaturated fatty acids in the follow-on formulas, especially the linoleic acid–α-linolenic acid (LA:ALA) ratio. Adding coconut oil in small amounts to the follow-on formulas provided the required amounts of saturated fatty acids, especially lauric and meristic acids. The follow-on formula based on cow or goat milk whey fermented with L. helveticus released more free amino acids (mmol tyrosine equivalent mL⁻¹) with high levels of antioxidants compared to unfermented ones. The release of free amino acids in the follow-on formula based on camel milk whey was not affected by fermentation. Our results recommend using L. helveticus in the fermentation of follow-on formulas based on camel and goat whey instead of formulas based on cow milk proteins. Full article

Human milk (HM) offers important nutritional benefits. However, except for phenylketonuria (PKU), there are little data on optimal levels of consumption of HM and a special formula free of disease-related amino acids (SF-AA) in infants with inborn errors of metabolism of amino acids and proteins (IEM-AA-P). We designed a spreadsheet to calculate the amounts of SF-AA and HM required to cover amino acid, protein, and energy needs in patients with the nine main IEM-AA-P in infants aged under 6 months. Upon entering the infant’s weight and the essential amino acid or intact protein requirements for the specific IEM, the spreadsheet calculates the corresponding required volume of HM based on the amino acid concentration in HM. Next, the theoretical daily fluid intake (typical range, 120–200 mL/kg/day) is entered, and the estimated daily fluid intake is calculated. The required daily volume of SF-AA is calculated as the difference between the total fluid intake value and the calculated volume of HM. The spreadsheet allows for the introduction of a range of requirements based on the patient’s metabolic status, and includes the option to calculate the required volume of expressed HM, which may be necessary in certain conditions such as MMA/PA and UCD. In cases in which breastfeeding on demand is feasible, the spreadsheet determines the daily amount of SF-AA divided over 6–8 feeds, assuming that SF-AA is administered first, followed by HM as needed. Intake data calculated by the spreadsheet should be evaluated in conjunction with data from clinical and nutritional analyses, which provide a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s nutritional status and help guide individualized dietary management for the specific IEM. Full article

Background: Clinician’s choice of hypoallergenic formulas in the first-line management of cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) should be informed by evidence on clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness. Objective: We compare the cost-effectiveness of amino acid-based formula (AAF), extensively hydrolyzed casein formula with Lactobacillus rhamnosus Gorbach Goldin (EHCF+LGG), extensively hydrolyzed whey formula (EHWF), and rice hydrolyzed formula (RHF) in non-breastfed children in France. Methods: Immunotolerance and atopic manifestations’ prevalence were based on a prospective non-randomized study with a 36-month follow-up. Resource utilization was sourced from a survey of French clinicians, and unit costs were based on national data. Costs and health consequences were discounted at 2.5% annually. Results were reported using the Collective and French National Health Insurance perspectives. Results: Children receiving EHCF+LGG were predicted to require less healthcare resources, given their reduced prevalence of CMPA symptoms at 3 years. In the base case, EHCF+LGG led to savings of at least €674 per child compared to AAF, EHWF, and RHF at 3 years, from both perspectives. Nutrition had the highest economic burden in CMPA, driven by hypoallergenic formulas and dietetic replacements costs. Results were robust to one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Conclusions: EHCF+LGG was associated with more symptom-free time, higher immune tolerance, and lower costs. Full article

Co-crystals are one of the most popular ways to modify the physicochemical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) without changing pharmacological activity through non-covalent interactions with one or more co-formers. A “green method” has recently prompted many researchers to develop solvent-free techniques or minimize solvents for arranging the eco-friendlier process of co-crystallization. Researchers have also been looking for less-risk co-formers that produce the desired API’s physicochemical properties. This review purposed to collect the report studies of amino acids as the safe co-former and explored their advantages. Structurally, amino acids are promising co-former candidates as they have functional groups that can form hydrogen bonds and increase stability through zwitterionic moieties, which support strong interactions. The co-crystals and deep eutectic solvent yielded from this natural compound have been proven to improve pharmaceutical performance. For example, l-glutamine could reduce the side effects of mesalamine through an acid-base stabilizing effect in the gastrointestinal fluid. In addition, some amino acids, especially l-proline, enhances API’s solubility and absorption in its natural deep eutectic solvent and co-crystals systems. Moreover, some ionic co-crystals of amino acids have also been designed to increase chiral resolution. Therefore, amino acids are safe potential co-formers, which are suitable for improving the physicochemical properties of API and prospective to be developed further in the dosage formula and solid-state syntheses. Full article

The aim of this narrative review was to assess published growth data for healthy, term, infants consuming extensively hydrolyzed protein-based (EHF), or amino acid-based formulas (AAF). These data may be of use to clinicians managing infants with medical conditions consuming these products. A search was conducted using key terms: amino acid-based, hydrolysate, hydrolyzed, hydrolysed, infant formula, infant formulae or formulas, baby formula, or formulae or formulas, infant, infants, infantile, and growth. Seven controlled, randomized, prospective growth trials of healthy term infants fed EHFs or AAFs at similar time points during the first four months of age met these and other criteria, including that the trial was published in a peer-reviewed journal, subjects were enrolled by ≤14 days of age and were exclusively formula-fed at entry and throughout the duration of the trial, and infants were assessed at regular intervals with weight measures available ideally at 14 days, one, two, three, and four months of age. Results suggested that healthy infants receiving commonly available EHFs and AAFs do not appear to experience accelerated growth as reported for infants fed many standard formulas. Differences in growth patterns were observed with some formulas supporting normative growth patterns during the first four months but others appearing to support markedly lower growth patterns. These observations should be confirmed in well-designed prospective randomized trials. Until that time, it is recommended that EHFs and AAFs be chosen carefully with individual patient needs considered. Full article