Critical reviews in food science and nutrition最新文献

With heightened awareness of cardiovascular health and obesity-particularly visceral adiposity-contemporary consumers prioritize dietary lipid quality and quantity. Substituting triacylglycerol (TAG)-based fat sources with diacylglycerol (DAG)-based sources in meat products without compromising the sensory and technological properties can fulfill consumers' demand for healthier meat products. This review delineates the metabolic pathway distinctions between DAGs and TAGs, summarizes the health benefits of DAGs, and documents their synthesis methodologies. Furthermore, it contrasts animal-derived and plant-derived DAGs while examining recent advances in plant-derived DAG emulsions. Building on this foundation, emerging research on the interaction between DAGs and myofibrillar proteins (MPs) positions them as promising fat replacers in meat products, warranting further exploration for effective quality preservation. Application prospects and implementation barriers for DAGs in emulsified meat systems are also examined. Ultimately, this comprehensive analysis offers valuable insights and guidance for developing healthier meat products and advancing the application of DAGs in the food industry.

Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, plays a pivotal role in the bidirectional interplay with chronic inflammation during disease progression. This review synthesizes evidence on how dietary components modulate chronic inflammation by targeting ferroptosis, revealing novel mechanisms through which dietary components like polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), vitamins, and phytochemicals dynamically balance lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense. These components act via key pathways, including iron metabolism (iron transport pathway and ferritinophagy), lipid metabolism (FSP1/CoQ10 axis, lipophagy), and amino acid metabolism (SLC7A11/GPX4, transsulfuration). We highlight their dual roles in regulating inflammatory microenvironments and demonstrate their therapeutic potential in chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, and neurodegeneration by targeting ferroptosis regulators (e.g. ACSL4, GPX4, and Nrf2). We further propose a multi-target synergistic strategy for dietary interventions to mitigate ferroptosis-driven inflammation. Our findings provide a theoretical foundation for precision nutrition in chronic disease management and outline future directions, including structure-activity relationship studies, clinical translation, and interdisciplinary approaches integrating multi-omics technologies. Bridging mechanistic insights with technological advances in multi-omics and biomarker development will enable targeted dietary approaches to disrupt the ferroptosis-inflammation axis, offering novel avenues for chronic disease prevention and management.

An adequate choline intake is essential for infant health. Choline profiles in human milk, critical for setting adequate intake levels and developing infant formulas, varied markedly across studies. This study aimed to systematically review and analyze choline concentrations and compositions in human milk and explore influencing factors. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and CNKI were searched through August 16, 2025, for studies reporting total choline (TC) or water-soluble choline (WSC) concentrations in milk from healthy mothers within six months postpartum. Three-level meta-analytic models were used. Seventeen studies involving 1747 women were included. The primary analysis of seven studies reporting both TC and WSC showed a pooled TC concentration of 126.2 mg/L (95% CI: 103.7, 148.7), with WSC accounting for 83.3% (76.1%, 90.6%). The secondary analysis included ten additional studies reporting only WSC, estimating TC at 134.2 mg/L (122.6, 145.8), consistent with the primary analysis (p = 0.507). Across all studies, TC significantly increased from 71.5 mg/L in colostrum to 152.2 mg/L in transitional milk, then stabilized at 145.0 mg/L in mature milk. Although TC concentrations varied by assay methods and geographic regions, economic levels of countries demonstrated a significant influence. These findings could provide guidance for infant feeding.

Poultry eggs represent a globally prevalent and nutritious protein source and are regarded as excellent raw materials for food products. However, their persistent allergenicity and instability of functional properties during processing, severely limit their deep-processing applications. Non-enzymatic glycation emerges as an energy-efficient and food-safe chemical modification method that affects the proteins' structures and then regulates their functional properties, suggesting its potential to simultaneously mitigate allergenicity and enhance functionalities in egg-based products. The review systematically overviews the methods and the influencing factors of glycation. Subsequently, it carefully summarizes the change induced by glycation in structures and functional properties, involving processing performance and biological activities, of egg proteins, and demonstrates that glycation improves the functional properties. Particularly, the review highlights emerging applications of glycated egg proteins in precision nutrient delivery systems and intelligent antimicrobial packaging matrices. And current research limitations and the perspectives for the future development of glycated egg proteins are further proposed. The review deepens the understanding of glycated egg proteins and provides theoretical foundations for egg protein derivatives with tailored functionalities.

Probiotics have gained a great attention due to their potential health benefits and are extensively used in food and medical sectors, including dairy food products, dietary supplements, and medicines. These beneficial microorganisms support gut health by enhancing mucosal integrity, promoting nutrient absorption, and balancing the gut microbiota. However, the misuse and overuse of antibiotics have led to the development of antibiotic resistance in gut microflora as repeated selective pressures lead to the development of resistant strains. Probiotics, when exposed to antibiotics, can acquire antibiotic resistance, which may contribute to the intra- and inter-species dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). This transfer of ARGs to the pathogens indicates a significant threat, potentially resulting in therapeutic failures and raising important safety concerns. Although probiotics provide various health benefits, their use requires careful control to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance. This review discusses the potential risks associated with probiotics, focusing on the impact of antibiotic resistance and the importance of evaluating probiotics for their safety to protect public health.

Post-harvest diseases pose a considerable threat to food safety and quality, and there is an urgent need for strong strategies to prevent and control them. In order to manage postharvest diseases of fruits and vegetables more efficiently, this review first describes various biocontrol agents (BCAs), including bacterial, fungal, and viral entities, and their basic principles in biocontrol. It then discusses the role of nontraditional chemical approaches, such as chemoinducers, plant extracts, essential oils, microbial metabolites, volatile compounds, and nanotechnology-based approaches, in postharvest diseases of fruits and vegetables. In addition, how nontraditional chemical methods can be utilized to enhance the effectiveness of BCAs is highlighted. The combination of nontraditional chemical methods and BCAs provides an innovative and effective strategy for preventing and controlling postharvest diseases. By utilizing the synergistic effects of various BCAs and nontraditional chemical methods, researchers have made significant progress in disease management. Notably, nanotechnology offers promising new avenues for the preparation and delivery of BCAs. Prospects for this research include the development of complex BCAs, international collaboration in the field of sustainable agriculture, and addressing regulatory challenges.

Research and clinical experience in nutrition have emphasized the merits of some dietary patterns, e.g., the Mediterranean diet, to obtain health-related benefits. This has also been the case of specific foods such as yogurt which has been tested using different approaches and under various conditions. As described in this paper, there is a quasi-consensus among population studies about the protective relationship of regular yogurt consumption with incidence of overweight and type 2 diabetes. This is concordant with laboratory-based experimentation and clinical trials showing that yogurt consumption induces favorable effects on many key components of metabolic homeostasis and energy balance. The benefits of yogurt consumption also seem to be partly explained by its status of fermented food which involves the influence of yogurt on the gut microbiota and the reciprocal role of some bacterial-derived molecules on metabolic regulation. In clinical nutrition, novel education approaches benefit from the versatility of yogurt and its high nutrient density to promote healthy eating behaviors and habits as well as cardiometabolic benefits. In summary, yogurt, especially plain yogurt, should be part of healthy eating habits because of its high nutritional value, its flexible food matrix, its beneficial bacterial components, and its versatility under usual feeding conditions.

Hyperlipidemia is a prevalent metabolic disorder that can lead to other illnesses. Natural products in food, such as active peptides, can help alleviate hyperlipidemia. This study seeks to elucidate the mechanism through which food-derived active peptides (FDAPs) mitigate hyperlipidemia. Through comprehensive literature analysis, we estimated the efficacy and mechanism of FDAPs in reducing blood lipid levels. The results indicate that the structure-activity relationship (SAP) of FDAPs, the ability to regulate intestinal flora, and the regulation of relevant gene expression serve as the primary mechanisms. We leverage bioinformatics methods to analyze the lipid-lowering mechanism of FDAPs. By utilizing the OMIM database, GeneCard database, and TTD database, we identified the differential expressed genes (DEGs) that intersect with FDAPs, linked to hyperlipidemia. String, GO, and KEGG analysis reveal the further mechanism. Furthermore, we screened out the 22 molecular targets. String, GO, and KEGG analysis revealed that FDAPs likely achieve lipid reduction by regulating the expression of HMGCR, CYP7A1, and FAS. The strong correlation between lipid reduction by FDAPs and metabolic pathways, PPAR signaling pathway, and alcoholic liver disease provides valuable insights for the development of novel drugs.

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), cultivated for its low THC content (<0.3%), is increasingly valued for its nutrient-rich seeds and broad applications in human nutrition. This review offers a holistic analysis of hemp seed utilization, covering agronomic, nutritional, processing, and economic aspects. Agronomic practices and environmental factors considerably influence the seed's nutritional profile, which includes high levels of complete proteins, essential fatty acids with an optimal ω-6 to ω-3 ratio, dietary fiber, and micronutrients. Hemp seeds also contain bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties providing further health benefits and economic value. Advancements in processing methods, such as germination, fermentation, and cold pressing have enhanced nutrient bioavailability and reduced antinutritional factors, supporting the development of functional foods. Economically, the hemp seed market shows strong growth potential, driven by consumer demand for plant-based, sustainable food sources. However, challenges persist in scaling production and standardizing quality across supply chains. Hemp seeds represent a sustainable, nutrient-dense food ingredient with momentous potential to support health and diversify agricultural economies. Continued interdisciplinary research and supportive policy frameworks are essential to unlock their full value in the human diet.

Economically motivated adulteration (EMA) has become a critical issue in authentication of animal-origin food, as it poses serious threat to consumer benefits and health, industry development, and religious concerns. Efficient detection technologies are urgently needed to ensure food authenticity. However, conventional authentication technologies are limited in their capabilities for portable and highly sensitive detection. Emerging biosensors, with distinct advantages of simple operation, portable device, and super sensitivity, have become effective toolboxes to meet the demands of reliable on-site detection. This review systematacially summarizes the applications of advanced biosensors (mainly including colorimetric, fluorescence, electrochemical and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors) for authentication of animal-origin food. Significant recognition elements and their principles, the commonly coupled signal output platforms, as well as their applications in the detection of various animal-origin foods are comprehensively reviewed. Furthermore, we also discuss the current challenges and future prospects in this research field.