Environmental influence on the worldwide prevalence of a 776C->G variant in the transcobalamin gene (TCN2).

Background: A 776C-->G variant (dbSNP ID: rs1801198) in the transcobalamin gene (TCN2; MIM# 275350) decreases the cellular and plasma concentration of transcobalamin and thereby influences the cellular availability of vitamin B(12).

Objective: To evaluate the worldwide prevalence of this variant and its association with homocysteine plasma level.

Methods: The study was performed in 1433 apparently healthy subjects, including Afro-Americans and Afro-Africans and in 251 Afro-Africans participants with severe malaria.

Nutritional value of proteins from edible seaweed Palmaria palmata (dulse).

Palmaria palmata (Dulse) is a red seaweed that may be a potential protein source in the human diet. Its protein content, amino acid composition, and protein digestibility were studied with algae collected every month over a 1-year period. Significant variations in protein content were observed according to the season: The highest protein content (21.

In vitro allergenicity of peanut after hydrolysis in the presence of polysaccharides.

Background: Peanut is a major allergenic product. Manufacturing processes used in food industries to improve the physicochemical properties of food-based peanut (stabilization, texturization), could cause a modification of the digestibility of peanut proteins and, consequently, their allergenicity.

Objective: This study aimed at examining the influence of polysaccharides, i.

High prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia related to folate deficiency and the 677C-->T mutation of the gene encoding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase in coastal West Africa.

Background: Moderate hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk for neural tube defect and neurodegenerative and vascular diseases and has nutritional, metabolic, and genetic determinants. Its prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa remains unknown.

Objective: Our goal was to evaluate the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia and the influence of nutritional, metabolic, and genetic determinants in savanna and coastal regions of Togo and Benin.

Effects of different levels of gum arabic, low methylated pectin and xylan on in vitro digestibility of beta-lactoglobulin.

Plant hydrocolloids used in the food industry to improve texture and stability of food, such as dairy products, can reduce protein digestibility and, consequently, modify the bioavailability of amino acids. We studied the in vitro hydrolysis at 37 degrees C of beta-lactoglobulin (beta-lg) in mixed dispersions containing either gum arabic or low-methylated pectin or xylan at levels of 0, 1, 10, 20, 30, and 50% weight. Proteolysis used either pepsin alone by progressive reduction of pH during proteolysis or pepsin followed by trypsin and chymotrypsin in two different dialysis bags with a molecular weight (MW) cutoff of 1000 or 8000 Da.