The relevance of food composition data for nutrition surveys in rural Tibet: pilot study in the context of Kashin-Beck Disease

in Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement = Biotechnology, Agronomy, Society and Environment [=BASE] (2013), 17(1), 32-42

Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) is an endemic and chronic osteochondropathy. This disease principally occurs in the Tibet Autonomous Region and in several provinces of the People’s Republic of China. The ... [more ▼]

Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) is an endemic and chronic osteochondropathy. This disease principally occurs in the Tibet Autonomous Region and in several provinces of the People’s Republic of China. The etiology of the disease remains obscure although environmental factors are assumed to be involved. Diet, in particular, differentiates the rural community, affected by KBD, from the other communities (nomads and city-dwellers), who remain unaffected. In anticipation of a nutrition survey, this study aimed to measure the mineral content (Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Ni, Se, Al, Sr, Mo, Cd, As, Pb, Hg, Cr, and Co) of eight Tibetan staple foods and to compare the results against two food composition tables (FCTs). Foods were sampled in twenty households selected from both an endemic and a non-endemic area of rural Tibet. Ten minerals involved in bone metabolism were measured using atomic and molecular spectrometric methods. Results revealed that a very limited number of food/constituent pairs showed a variation in mineral composition during a single year of testing for a given region. In addition, results showed significant differences in mineral content between the endemic and the non-endemic area, especially for wheat flour. Following our analysis of the mineral content of the Tibetan food samples, results were statistically compared with similar foods listed in two food composition tables: the USDA National Nutrient Database (USDA Food Search for Windows, Version 1.0, database version SR23), and the China Food Composition Table (book 1, 2nd edition). More than 50 to 60% of p-values < 0.05 were highlighted, suggesting the inappropriateness of using FCTs as a reference for nutrition surveys in rural Tibet, and emphasizing the need for analysis of traditional foods. Differences were found to be more or less marked depending on the element considered, and calcium content seemed to show the greatest difference. Although it is obviously too early for definite conclusions to be reached (insufficient number of samples by food and insufficient number of foods analyzed), it seems that the present pilot-study indicates significant discrepancies between measured and tabulated values of the mineral content of certain foods. A more complete survey would therefore seem mandatory. [less ▲]

Genetics of the mineral contents in bovine milk predicted by mid-infrared spectrometry

in Book of Abstracts of the 63rd Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science (2012, August)

Knowing the contents of minerals in milk like Ca or Na could be interesting to improve the nutritional quality of milk and to assess the animal health status. This study had two aims: 1) development of ... [more ▼]

Knowing the contents of minerals in milk like Ca or Na could be interesting to improve the nutritional quality of milk and to assess the animal health status. This study had two aims: 1) development of mid-infrared equations for mineral contents in milk by using an approach combining multiple countries, breeds, and production systems and 2) study of the genetic variability of these traits in the Walloon Holstein dairy cattle. Samples included in the calibration set were collected in Belgium, Luxembourg and France over 5 years. The calibration set included at least 400 samples analyzed by coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry to quantify the contents of Na, Ca, Mg, P and K. The calibration coefficient of determination ranged between 0.69 for K and 0.93 for Na. The standard error of cross-validation was 63.35, 49.24, 64.33, 7.04, and 93.22 mg/kg of milk for Na, Ca, P, Mg and K. From these results, the quantification of milk minerals by mid-infrared is feasible. These equations were applied to more than 140,000 spectral records collected from 43,797 first parity Holstein cows in 1,233 herds. The variance components were estimated using Gibbs Sampling using single trait random regression models derived from the one used for the Walloon genetic evaluation of milk production traits. First results gave a daily heritability of 0.26 for Na, 0.45 for Ca, 0.48 for P, 0.46 for Mg, and 0.41 for K. Moderate negative genetic correlations were found between Na and the other studied traits. The highest correlation (0.69) was observed between P and Mg. These results confirmed the genetic variability of these traits. Further studies will be conducted to study the relationship between these traits and other traits (e.g., production, health). [less ▲]

Prediction of individual methane emission by dairy cattle from mid-infrared spectra

Conference (2010, July 14)

Use of NIR spectroscopy for the determination of internal quality of entire apples

Poster (2009, November)

Nutritional Properties Of Potato Protein Concentrate Compared With Soybean Meal As The Main Protein Source In Feed For The Double-Muscled Belgian Blue Bull

in Animal (2009), 3(2), 200-208

Dosage des sels minéraux du lait par la spectrométrie du moyen-infrarouge. Outil pratique à destination des chercheurs, éleveurs et industriels laitiers

in 13ième Carrefour des Productions animales: L'élevage des ruminants en question: vérités et contre-vérités (2008, January 23)

Relationship between lactoferrin, minerals, and somatic cells in bovine milk

in Journal of Dairy Science (2008), 91(E-Suppl. 1), 542

Selection for increased mastitis resistance is hampered by lack of available data. Currently, somatic cell count or score are proven indicators. However, it should be a priority to increase the number of ... [more ▼]

Selection for increased mastitis resistance is hampered by lack of available data. Currently, somatic cell count or score are proven indicators. However, it should be a priority to increase the number of available indicator traits for mastitis resistance. The aim of this research was to study the relationships among potential indicator traits as lactoferrin content, concentrations of major minerals in milk (calcium, Ca; sodium, Na; phosphore, P), and somatic cell count. First, 3 calibration equations Breeding and Genetics: Breeding for Milk Quality and Test-Day Model Applications J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 86, E-Suppl. 2/J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 91, E-Suppl. 1 543 were developed using partial least squares regressions to predict the contents of Ca, Na, and P in milk by mid-infrared spectrometry. A total of 1,609 milk samples were collected between March 2005 and May 2006 for 475 cows from 6 dairy breeds. Based on their spectral variability, 100 samples were selected using a principal components approach. The contents of these minerals were estimated by emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The ratio of standard deviation to standard error of cross validation obtained for the equations predicted the contents of Ca, Na, and P were superior to 2 suggesting the use of these equations in this research. Second, the relationship between lactoferrin, minerals and somatic cells was studied using a random regressions multi-trait animal test-day model. A total of 57,973 milk samples were collected from 94 herds between April 2005 and January 2008 during milk recording in the Walloon part of Belgium. [less ▲]

Détermination d'un rendement fromager de laboratoire en relation avec les caractéristiques chimiques de lairs de brebis.

Poster (2003, December)