R. Rajalakshmi

Chemical and biological evaluation of the effects of fermentation on the nutritive value of foods prepared from rice and grams

1. Studies were made of the effects of fermentation on the chemical composition and nutritive value of Idli, a product prepared from milled rice and dehusked black gram, and also of Khaman, a product prepared from dehusked and milled bengal gram. 2. Fermentation brought about an increase in thiamine and riboflavine contents and a decrease in phytate content in both materials. 3. Weanling rats fed on fermented Idli and Khaman were found to be superior to those fed on the corresponding unfermented product with regard to weight gain, nitrogen retention, thiamine and riboflavine contents of the liver and the activities of liver xanthine oxidase and succinic dehydrogenase and haemoglobin content of blood.

Ascorbic acid concentration of human fetal tissues in relation to fetal size and gestational age

1. Studies were carried out on the distribution of ascorbic acid in human fetal tissues with the progress of gestation. 2. Fetuses and stillborn babies varying in gestational age from 12 to 38 weeks were obtained from various Baroda hospitals. Ascorbic acid levels were determined in selected tissues: brain, adrenal, liver, kidney, lung, heart and placenta. 3. Ascorbic acid concentration in the brain was higher than that in the adrenal at all gestational ages, suggesting the importance of this vitamin in brain development. The concentrations of this vitamin in liver, kidney, lung and placenta were comparable, but that in the heart tended to be lower. In all the tissues, there was a fall in ascorbic acid during late gestation. However, the levels in tissues of stillborn babies were higher than those reported for adults.

Vitamin E status of the newborn in relation to gestational age, birth weight and maternal vitamin E status

1. Studies were made on the vitamin E status of the newborn as judged by cord serum vitamin E and erythrocyte haemolysis in vitro in relation to gestational age, birth weight and maternal vitamin E status in subjects belonging to low (LIG)- and high (HIG)-income groups in urban Baroda. 2. In the case of full-term infants, the mean values for maternal serum vitamin E (mg/l) for LIG (n 73) and HIG (n 43) were 9.9 (SE 0.4) and 11.6 (SE 0.5). The corresponding values for cord serum vitamin E were 3.6 (SE 0.2) and 4.6 (SE 0.2) mg/l. 3. Serum vitamin E levels (mg/l) were lower in premature infants (2.3 (SE 0.2); n 20) and low-birth-weight full-term infants (2.9 (SE 0.2); n 25) than in full-term normal infants (4.2 (SE 0.1); n 91). This was associated with differences in maternal serum vitamin E levels (7.4 (SE 0.5), 8.2 (SE 0.5) and 11.1 (SE 0.3) respectively). The differences were more marked for LIG. 4. A negative correlation was found between serum vitamin E and erythrocyte haemolysis in vitro in the case of maternal blood but not in cord blood. 5. These results suggest that maternal vitamin E deficiency is one of the features associated with prematurity and intra-uterine growth retardation.

The effects of supplements varying in carotene and calcium content on the physical, biochemical and skeletal status of preschool children

I . Studies were made of the effects of food supplements varying in carotene and calcium content on the nutritional status of children aged 2-6 years. Three groups of children who were given a dietary supplement for 6 months and a fourth group of controls were investigated. The supplement was the fermented food dhokla, made of wheat and Bengal gram (Cicer urietinum L.) (group I ) or dhokla with added greens (group 2) or dhokla with added greens (fenugreek) and lime powder (a mixture of CaO, Ca(OH), and CaCO,) (group 3). 2. Studies were made of the effects of the above supplements on height, weight, skeletal status as judged by increments in bone age and cortical thickness of the second metacarpal bone and femur, and biochemical status as judged by the composition of blood (haemoglobin), serum (protein, albumin and vitamin A) and urine (creatinine, nitrogen, thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin C) . 3. All the groups given the supplement were found to be superior to the controls as judged by these criteria. The size of the increment generally increased from group I to group 3 and the differences were most marked for bone age and cortical thickness. 4. The results suggested that (u) calcium deficiency is a crucial factor in the aetiology of skeletal retardation in young children and (b ) that at the levels of calcium (560 mg) and phosphorus (980 mg) consumed, and with liberal exposure to sunlight, a dietary supply of vitamin D may not be a crucial factor for skeletal deveIopment in young children.

Studies on human fetal tissues— I. Fetal weight and tissue weights in relation to gestational age, fetal size and maternal nutritional status

Studies were done on 130 human fetuses (including stillborns) varying in gestational age from 8 to 40 weeks, on fetal weight and tissue weights of selected fetal tissues, namely, liver, lung, heart small intestine and large intestine. As expected, fetal weight as well as tissue weights increased with the progress of gestation. Both fetal and tissue weights were found to be consistently higher in the high income group but the differences were statistically significant only around midpregnancy. The differences for subsequent gestational ages showed the same trend, but fell short of significance because of small sample size and large intragroup variations. Among the tissues studied, the lung apparently enjoys an ontogenetic priority while intestine appears to be the last to develop. Fetal growth retardation seems to be associated with decreased weights of liver, lung and large intestine. The small intestine is spared to some extent. These findings also suggest that because of smaller tissue weights, these fetuses are likely to have poor stores of critical nutrients.

Studies on human fetal tissues-II. Lipid composition of human fetal tissues in relation to gestational age, fetal size and maternal nutritional status

When lipids of different tissues were compared for the period 16–24 weeks of gest ation, the liver has the highest concentration of all the lipid components studied. The concentrations in the small intestine were close to that of the liver in the case of the neutral lipids. The lung and heart were found to have comparable concentrations of various lipids. Fetal growth retardation seems to be associated with a higher concentration of cholesterol in the liver, the lung and small intestine. Lower values for phospholipid concentration and phospholipid to cholesterol ratio were observed in the lung, heart and small intestine with such retardation. These studies suggest the delayed maturation of these tissues, as these lipids play an important role in the maintenance of cellular integrity, structure and function of plasma membrane as well as subcellular membranes.

Vitamin C synthesis in rats fed on diets deficient or normal in iron content.

I . Iron deficiency was induced in albino rats by a milk-powder diet. Control groups were given milk powder plus an iron source. 2. The haemoglobin content of the blood was determined once each month. When the haemoglobin level fell to 10 g/Ioo ml or less in the deficient animals, determinations were made of the vitamin C content of 24 h urine as well as of liver, kidney, adrenals, brain and blood. Additional studies were made of in vitro synthesis of the vitamin by liver homogenate. 3. The urine and tissues of the deficient animals were found to have a higher concentration of the vitamin than those of the control animals. The difference in enzyme synthesis was in the same direction, but was not statistically significant. 4. The results are interpreted as suggesting an increased requirement, by iats, of the vitamin in iron deficiency; this increased requirement is met by increased synthesis.