Lysine Fortification of Wheat Flour Improves Selected Indices of the Nutritional Status of Predominantly Cereal-Eating Families in Pakistan

Abstract

Wheat provides more than 50% of the protein and calorie intake of the population of Pakistan. Legumes and animal protein that could complement the amino acid pattern of wheat, in which lysine is the first limiting amino acid for utilization of protein, are not affordable by members of lower socioeconomic groups in developing countries. The purpose of the study was to determine whether lysine fortification of wheat flour would have a positive impact on populations consuming a predominantly wheat-based diet. A double-blind study was carried out for three months on the outskirts of Peshawar, Pakistan. Forty families received wheat flour fortified with lysine, and 40 families received wheat flour without lysine. Wheat provided 59% of the protein for men, 65% for women, and 58% for children. The weight and height of the children in both groups increased during the study, but the increase was significantly greater in the lysine group. Hemoglobin increased significantly in the women receiving lysine-fortified flour. Transferrin levels increased significantly in men, women, and children in the lysine group as compared with those in the control group. Prealbumin increased significantly in adults receiving additional lysine but decreased in children. Men, women, and children in the lysine-supplemented families had significant increases in CD4, CD8, and complement C3 as compared with controls. These results indicate that lysine fortification of wheat flour can significantly improve sensitive indicators of nutritional status in a population consuming a diet in which 58% to 65% of the protein, depending on age and sex, is supplied by wheat.

Lysine fortification reduces anxiety and lessens stress in family members in economically weak communities in Northwest Syria

“…Although the populations studied apparently consumed enough low-quality protein to meet minimal requirements, improvement in the quality of their protein intake by lysine fortification of their cereal staple is presumed to have been responsible for the favorable effects observed on protein and immune status and child growth in two similar previous studies (7,8). It might, therefore, be that an equivalent improvement in chronic anxiety and stress responsiveness would have been achievable by supplying lysine-rich proteins.…”

“…The risk of lysine inadequacy is high where low socioeconomic groups depend on wheat for their protein supply (1), but experimental evidence of the nutritional benefits of increasing the lysine content of wheat flour is limited (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). This study, which was a part of a larger wheat fortification trial, was based on a hypothesis that fortification of a lysine inadequate diet in poor communities may reduce anxiety and improve stress response, thereby potentially improving the quality of life.…”

Effect of lysine supplementation on hypertensive men and women in selected peri-urban community in Ghana

“…Results from Hussain et al, (2004) and Smriga et al, (2004) [3,4] have shown that some stress responses in low economic populations consuming mainly cereal diets can be enhanced with lysine supplementation.…”

“…Vegetables, on the other hand, are generally poor sources of lysine, with the exception of legumes. Evidence of the nutritional and health benefits of increased lysine content of cereal based foods is unlimited [3].…”

“…The rate of malnutrition and morbidity are many times higher in peri-urban areas than in relatively more advantageous urban localities and even rural communities [6]. Animal and legumes protein that could supplement the amino acid pattern of cereals, are expensive for these groups [3].…”