The importance of the trace metals zinc, copper and iron with respect to fetal growth in human pregnancy, with particular emphasis on their transfer to and uptake by the fetus, was discussed at a meeting of the Nutrition Society by Widdowson et al. (1974). The present paper examines the new information which is available in respect to the trace elements Zn, Cu, manganese, selenium and chromium....

Humic acid is a biochemical constituent of humus and increases root biomass and shoot growth by improving absorption of nutrients. In order to study the effects of humic acid on root and shoot growth and leaf nutrient contents of pistachio seedlings, an experiment was conducted of completely randomized design with five treatments in three replications. In the first step seeds of Pistacia vera c...

Nutrition deals with ingestion of foods, digestion, absorption, transport of nutrients, intermediary metabolism, underlying anabolism and catabolism, and excretion of unabsorbed nutrients and metabolites. In addition, nutrition interacts with gene expressions, which are involved in the regulation of animal performances. Our laboratory is concerned with the improvement of animal productions, suc...

Post-translational modifications of chromatin contribute to the epigenetic control of gene transcription. The response to food intake and individual nutrients also includes epigenetic events. Bile acids are necessary for lipid digestion and absorption, and more recently have emerged as signaling molecules. Their synthesis is transcriptionally regulated also in relation to the fasted-to-fed cycl...

Diamine oxidase is continuously released from the intestinal mucosa and carried to the circulation by the lymphatics. The effect of nutrients on this release was examined. Rats were prepared with duodenal and intestinal lymph cannulas. Test mixtures of lipid emulsions containing triolein, oleic acid, or tricaprylin and solutions of carbohydrate and protein were infused into the duodenum. The en...

Invariably, many agricultural soils of the world are deficient in one or more of the essential nutrients needed to support healthy plants. Acidity, alkalinity, salinity, anthropogenic processes, nature of farming, and erosion can lead to soil degradation. Additions of fertilizers and/or amendments are essential for a proper nutrient supply and maximum yields. Estimates of overall efficiency of ...

Phytoremediation is an eco-friendly method for removal of pollutants, which can be relied upon as a sustainable technology, if implemented under optimum conditions of plant growth. The effectiveness of water hyacinth, a topical weed, for the removal of Zinc (Zn) and Chromium (Cr) ions from aqueous solutions has been presented in this article. The potential of this plant in removing metals by ph...

Malabsorption is a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that leads to defective digestion, absorption and transport of important nutrients across the intestinal wall. Small intestine is the major site where most of the nutrients are absorbed. There are three main mechanisms of malabsorption; premucosal, mucosal and postmucosal. Premucosal malabsorption is the inadequate digestion due to impro...

A key determinant of the relationship between diet and longevity is the balance of protein to carbohydrate in the diet. Eating excess protein relative to carbohydrate shortens lifespan in solitary and social insects. Here we explored how lifespan and behavior in ants was affected by the quality of protein ingested and the presence of associated antinutrients (i.e. compounds that interfere with ...

Various reports indicate that humans receive 20-25% of their daily water intake from food. Fruits, vegetables and other high-moisture foods, therefore, make an important contribution to total fluid intake. In addition, co-ingestion of other nutrients and ingredients can impact drinking behavior, absorption, distribution and retention of water, all of which contribute to the person's hydration s...