Recipient Organization
UNIV OF WISCONSIN
21 N PARK ST STE 6401
MADISON,WI 53715-1218
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Biofortification is the process of increasing the nutritional value of the foods that we eat. Vitamin A and zinc are essential micronutrients that the World Health Organization considers to be short-fall nutrients. This proposal seeks to develop and evaluate the efficacy of conventionally bred biofortified orange corn (maize) with high provitamin A carotenoids and zinc to improve human nutrition. The main objectives of this proposal are to: 1) select and evaluate maize germplasm for increased provitamin A and zinc in Mexico and the US; 2) determine the influence of ß-cryptoxanthin-biofortified maize on zinc bioavailability to hen eggs compared with ß-carotene-biofortified maize and test bioefficacy of the biofortified maize and the nutritionally-enhanced eggs in Mongolian gerbils; and 3) ultimately test the selected high carotenoid/zinc variety in a bioefficacy intervention study in Mexican schoolchildren. We will evaluate the influence of the nutritionally enhanced maize on the microbiome profile in the children consuming the biofortified maize versus a typical maize. The two model animals (hens and gerbils) will demonstrate proof-of-concept for enhanced human nutrition prior to orchestrating the human intervention study in Mexico. This proposal aligns with the improvement of the nutritional profile of maize and hen eggs as more nutritious food for human consumption. This US-Mexico partnership encompasses a soil-to- maize-to-animal-to-human approach to meet the global demand for nutritious foods, which is included as part of the US Government Global Food Security Strategy and the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals.
Animal Health Component
25%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
25%
Developmental
25%
Goals / Objectives
We will select agronomically promising high ß-cryptoxanthin (ßCX) and high zinc (Zn) maize varieties in Mexico and evaluate the elite cultivars in Texas. We will develop and select open-pollinated varieties using elite lines with high concentrations of ßCX and Zn in the grain in Mexico under subtropical conditions. We will further evaluate the selected germplasm lines in the semi-arid to sub-humid climate of Texas in high pH soils that limit bioavailability of Zn to maize. We will conduct field and laboratory screening to select the best varieties with the highest micronutrient content to be used in animal models and a human efficacy study. In the animal studies, we will determine the influence of ßCX-biofortified maize on zinc bioavailability to hen eggs compared with ß-carotene-biofortified maize and test bioefficacy of the biofortified maize and eggs in Mongolian gerbils. Animal models appropriate for carotenoid metabolism are few. This study will determine the difference in Zn bioavailability to eggs from hens fed maize biofortified with ßCX or ß-carotene. We will utilize the egg yolks collected from laying hens to evaluate their vitamin A and Zn nutritional value in gerbils. Provitamin A carotenoids are converted to vitamin A during times of vitamin A depletion in gerbils similarly to humans. Investigating health effects of biofortified maize and eggs are essential for marketing enhanced food products.Finally, we will orchestrate a ßCX- and Zn-biofortified maize intervention study in Mexican schoolchildren to assess vitamin A and Zn status and influence on gut microbiome. We will assess changes in total body vitamin A stores and estimate changes in total liver vitamin A reserves with a randomized intervention study using retinol isotope dilution techniques. We will evaluate the impact of biofortified maize feeding on Zn status using changes in serum concentrations. We will evaluate changes in fecal microbiome in a subset of the children between the biofortified maize and negative control groups.
Project Methods
Methods: We will use traditional plant breeding techniques to optimize zinc in orange maize cultivars. We will test food products maize from this nutirionally enhanced maize in animal models. We will finally assess the improvement in vitamin A and zinc status in children using state of the art techniques.Efforts: The maize germplasm will be grown in Mexico and Texas. We will hold field days during the growing season and harvest to demonstrate the nutritional benefits of maize to graduate and undergraduate students. We will orchestrate the animal studies in Wisconsin to show proof of concept while involving undergraduates in the research. Finally, we will orchestrate a maize feeding intervention trial in Mexican schoolchildren that will involve graduate students from both Mexico and Wisconsin.Evaluation: Our studies will be evaluated on many different levels.Evaluation of the proposed objectives will require many types of data acquisition. This project will generate maize genotype and phenotype data at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and Texas A&M. CIMMYT will do preliminary evaluation of the zinc content and carotenoid profiles of the maize using standardized methods. CIMMYT will also do retention studies on the products developed for the human study in Mexico. Soil background properties (e.g., pH, electrical conductivity, overall soil organic carbon, inorganic carbon, and soil nitrogen, soil texture), soil fertility assessments (e.g., Mehlich-3 extraction for P and K analysis and soil nitrate and ammonium), and trace element analysis of soil and plant tissues (Zn, Fe, P, K, Mg, Mn, Ca, etc.,) will be obtained by Texas A&M. Animal data will include growth, organ weights, serum vitamin A, tissue carotenoid, and Zn concentrations. Human studies will have de-identified data on all survey tools. Codes will be stored in a locked cabinet in a locked office at University of Sonora. All training and outreach materials will be stored and disseminated as needed. Isotope enrichment data will only have codes associated with them at University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW). All animal and human data will be evaluated by a biostatistician at UW familiar with such study designs.