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Vitamins and Minerals (Poster Session)

(P17-014-24) Evaluating the Biological Impact of Zinc Biofortified Maize on Women and Children in Guatemala Through the Novel LA:DGLA Ratio Biomarker

Sunday, June 30, 2024
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM CT
Location: Poster Board 351

    Presenting Author(s)

  • CJ

    Cydney Jackson, B.S. Food Science

    Graduate Student
    Cornell University, Dept. of Food Science & Technology
    Ithaca, New York, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • MM

    Manolo Mazariegos

    Maternal and Infant Nutrition Specialist
    Instituto de Nutrición de Centro América y Panamá, INCAP
    Guatemala City, Guatemala, Guatemala

  • AA

    Andrea Alvarez

    Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama
    Guatemala, Guatemala

  • CB

    Curt Bowen

    Semilla Nueva
    Guatemala, Guatemala

  • HB

    Haim Bar, Ph.D.

    University of Connecticut

  • ET

    Elad Tako, PhD

    Professor
    Cornell University
    Ithaca, New York, United States

Disclosure(s):
Cydney Jackson, B.S. Food Science: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: The objective of this randomized pilot study was to assess the efficacy of zinc-biofortified maize in an at-risk rural Eastern Guatemalan population.

Methods: Women of childbearing age (n = 51, 30 ± 6 yrs) and children (n = 51, 35 ± 14 months) in Guatemala were recruited by INCAP to participate in the 16-week randomized efficacy trial. 20 mother-child dyads consumed the control maize with standard zinc content, and 30 mother-child dyads consumed the high-zinc biofortified maize (≥ 35% higher zinc content). Blood and stool samples were collected from the participants at baseline (0 weeks), mid-line (8 weeks), and end-line (16 weeks) time points. During collections, families completed a 24-hour dietary recall and 7-day food frequency questionnaire. Blood samples were processed at Cornell University to isolate the red blood cell fractions and assess linolenic acid (LA) and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA) ratios via liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy.

Results: The LA:DGLA ratio was distinguishably lower among the mothers compared to the children cohort at the baseline. In addition, there is a downward trend over time in the estimated marginal means for mothers (T1: 0.685, T2: 0.551, T3: 0.465) and children (T1: 0.816, T2: 0.682, T3: 0.596) that consumed the biofortified maize. Conversely, this downward trend is not present in the control maize group for children (T1: 0.758, T2: 0.642, T3: 0.667) and mothers (T1: 0.628, T2: 0.511, T3: 0.537).

Conclusions: Novel LA:DGLA assessment significantly differentiated women and children cohorts. High zinc biofortified maize enhanced the zinc status of both Guatemalan cohorts. Ultimately, these present findings align with anticipated nutritional needs and suggest a longer intervention is needed to further understand the potential efficacy of zinc-biofortified maize to mitigate low zinc status in at-risk rural populations.

Funding Sources: Light a Single Candle Foundation and INCAP