Niacin:

Function

Niacin (in the form of niacinamide) is an important part of coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). These enzymes are involved in energy metabolism. Niacin is also involved in skin, gastrointestinal system and nervous system maintenance and function.

Physiology

Niacin is absorbed in the stomach and upper intestine. It is excreted via the urine and is water-soluble.

Food Sources

Niacin may be synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan with the aid of vitamin B6 in the body. However, it is also contained in foods such as liver, meats, fish, whole grain and enriched cereals, beans, peanut butter, nuts and peas.

Deficiency

Niacin deficiency may occur in individuals consuming diets based on corn, where tryptophan is limiting. Deficiency is known as “pellagra”, including fatigue, anorexia (lack of appetite), irritability and depression. In parts of the body exposed to sunlight, a scaly dermatitis (skin irritation) …

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Laboratory-Based Studies

Blood Collection Cassette for Serum Transferrin Receptor Analysis

(Contact: Lisa Zeng; In Progress)

Assessment of IDA in population studies requires reliable and accurate measures of iron status. Serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) is a sensitive and specific functional measure of iron deficiency that quantifies tissue iron availability. Although the sTfR assay requires a very small volume of capillary blood, a number of practical issues limit its utility in remote or underdeveloped regions, where problems of iron deficiency are most prevalent.

In the remote or underdeveloped regions, there is often limited access to adequately equipped laboratories with trained technicians for reliable laboratory testing, adequate facilities are not always available to store frozen serum samples and there are often problems keeping samples cool during transport from the field site to the laboratory. If local laboratories are not available, shipping of samples to a central laboratory under controlled temperature is often costly …

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Using modern sophisticated stable isotope techniques, Mishaan et al have
clearly demonstrated bioavailability of iron and zinc from a multiple
micronutrient-fortified beverage in 6- to 9-year-old Peruvian children.1
Absorption of iron was in the range of 10% whether the beverage was ingested
with food or between meals, and absorption of zinc was ~23% independent of the
concurrent ingestion of food. The results of the study are important because
this fortified beverage provides another option for preventing iron and zinc
deficiencies.

The international focus on prevention of iron deficiency is not surprising2;
iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency in the world today,
and through its impact on the myelination of the developing central nervous
system, infants and young children with iron deficiency are likely to manifest
impaired motor, cognitive and socio-emotional development. When these children
enter school, they are more likely to fail grades and manifest behavioral
problems. …

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Pakistan

It has been estimated that diarrheal illnesses account for 12,600 deaths each day in children in Asia, Africa, and Latin America while pre-school children spend 35 to 70 days per year with diarrhea. Although, oral rehydration therapy has reduced diarrhea-related mortality by 50%, its affect has plateaud. To further decrease this burden malnutrition and immunity needs to be targeted. Sprinkles Supplefer Plus is unique in that micronutrients such as iron, zinc, Vitamin A and C, together with a probiotic can be formulated into the sachet to prevent common micronutrient deficiencies as well as diarrhea.

We investigated the effect of zinc and a heat-killed strain of probiotic L. acidophilus provided as micronutrient Sprinkles on diarrhea morbidity in infants. This community-based, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial took place in an urban slum of Karachi, Pakistan. 75 infants at high-risk for diarrhea-related-mortality identified as: (a) age between 6 to12 months; and (b) history of …

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Sprinkles are not commercially available at present.

Although future plans include large scale manufacturing and distribution, they are currently used solely within the context of research and food aid.

We are however looking for potential partners interested in conducting either efficacy or effectiveness studies in populations at high risk of iron deficiency. We also welcome partners who have structures set up in at risk communities in establishing effective distribution methods for Sprinkles.…

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