Green leafy vegetables in diets with a 25:1 omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio modify the erythrocyte fatty acid profile of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Background: In addition to the actual composition of the diet (i.e. nutrient composition, food groups), the omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio has been demonstrated to influence the tissue fatty acid profile and subsequently the risk for cardiovascular and other diseases.

Diets containing traditional and novel green leafy vegetables improve liver fatty acid profiles of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Background: The consumption of green leafy vegetables (GLVs) has been demonstrated to reduce the risks associated with cardiovascular and other diseases. However, no literature exists that examines the influence of traditional and novel GLVs on the liver fatty acid profile of an animal model genetically predisposed to developing hypertension. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of diets containing 4% collard greens, purslane or sweet potato greens on the liver fatty acid profiles of four-week old male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs, N = 44).

Polyphenol-rich sweet potato greens extract inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) leaves or greens, extensively consumed as a vegetable in Africa and Asia, are an excellent source of dietary polyphenols such as anthocyanins and phenolic acids. Here, we show that sweet potato greens extract (SPGE) has the maximum polyphenol content compared with several commercial vegetables including spinach. The polyphenol-rich SPGE exerts significant antiproliferative activity in a panel of prostate cancer cell lines while sparing normal prostate epithelial cells.

Sweet potato leaves: properties and synergistic interactions that promote health and prevent disease.

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) leaves provide a dietary source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, dietary fiber, and essential fatty acids. Bioactive compounds contained in this vegetable play a role in health promotion by improving immune function, reducing oxidative stress and free radical damage, reducing cardiovascular disease risk, and suppressing cancer cell growth. Currently, sweet potato leaves are consumed primarily in the islands of the Pacific Ocean and in Asian and African countries; limited consumption occurs in the United States.

Trans fat intake lowers total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels without changing insulin sensitivity index in Wistar rats.

Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that trans fat intake increases the risk of some chronic diseases. We hypothesize that trans fat intake would increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus by changing the lipid profile in plasma, the secretion of adipokines in adipose tissue, and the insulin sensitivity. Accordingly, the major objective of present study was to investigate the effect of dietary intake of trans fat on lipid profile, insulin sensitivity, and adipokine levels in plasma.

Use of focus groups to understand African-Americans' dietary practices: Implications for modifying a food frequency questionnaire.

Objective: To generate information about dietary practices, food preferences and food preparation methods from African-Americans in Macon County, Alabama, as a precursor to an intervention designed to modify an existing dietary health questionnaire (DHQ).

Method: African-American males (30) and females (31) ages 20 to 75 years participated in eight focus groups in Macon County Alabama between June and July, 2007.

Results: The core topics identified were dietary practices; food preferences; food preparation methods; fast food practices; and seasonal/specialty foods.

Total phenolics and antioxidant capacity of indigenous vegetables in the southeast United States: Alabama Collaboration for Cardiovascular Equality Project.

Collard greens, mustard greens, kale, okra, green onion, butter beans, butter peas, purple hull peas, rutabagas, and eggplant are frequently consumed by African Americans in the southeast United States. Sweet potato greens and purslane are two novel vegetables in this region. The objective of this study was to analyze total phenolics and antioxidant capacity in these indigenous vegetables.

Bioavailability of calcium from sweetpotato and soy flour supplemented diets in hamsters.

The bioavailability of calcium from two varieties of sweetpotatoes and supplementation of sweetpotatoes with soy flour was investigated in hamsters using plasma calcium concentration and femur calcium content as indicators. Five different diets were fed to five groups of animals for 28 days. There was no significant difference in plasma calcium concentrations of hamsters in all the diet groups.

Nutritional assessment of transgenic sweetpotato on body weight, lipid, and protein status in hamsters.

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the nutritional quality of genetically modified sweetpotato (genotype PI318846-3) on growth, lipid metabolism, and protein metabolism of hamsters. Three different diets made with transgenic and nontransgenic sweetpotato protein flour including a control diet with casein were fed to male Golden Syrian hamsters for 28 days. The protein efficiency ratio (1.

Storage Conditions and Microbial Quality of Smoked Dry Herring in Ghana.

A microbial profile of smoked dry herring stored under various storage conditions for up to 6 months at ambient temperature was determined. The fish were stored in polyethylene bags, polyethylene bags with desiccant, the traditional oven storage, modified storage structure, and freezer (control) storage. The fish stored in polyethylene bags with or without desiccant spoiled rapidly.

Survey of the Microbial Quality of Dry Fish, Cassava and Okra in Ghana.

A microbial profile of dry foods in Ghana including smoke dried herrings, salt dried tilapia, salt dried trigger fish, gari, kokonte and okra was evaluated. Okra had the highest aerobic count of 42 × 10, followed by kokone 16-20 × 10, smoke dried herrings 0.2-4 × 10, salt dried tilapia 3-4 × 10, salt dried trigger fish 3- 44 × 10 and gari 3-34 × 10.