Food & Nutrition Research最新文献

Background/objectives: The milk thistle plant (Silybum marianum) is known for its hepatoprotective properties. However, the poor water solubility of silymarin limits its dissolution in the intestinal tract and restricts its bioavailability following oral administration.

Methods: To improve bioavailability, special formulations, in particular micellar solubilization, are explored. In this study, we examined the transport rate of silymarin in a krill oil-based formulation across a Caco-2 epithelial barrier after upstream digestion simulation in vitro. Furthermore, in a randomized cross-over design study the bioavailability of the krill oil-based formulation was investigated after single dose intake in fasting conditions in healthy participants.

Results: We could demonstrate that the apparent transport coefficient of silybin, measured as lead substance of milk thistle extract, across the epithelium is efficiently boosted by a krill oil formulation, resulting in a 28% increase compared to silymarin powder. Consistent with these findings, a significant enhancement of bioavailability (P < 0.0001) was demonstrated for the krill oil-based formulation in comparison to the milk thistle extract resulting in an 8.59-fold higher AUC_0-8h and a 15.08-fold greater C_max of silybin and faster uptake kinetic after single dose intake.

Discussion and conclusions: These findings suggest that phospholipid-based delivery systems offer a promising strategy for improving the efficacy of lipophilic bioactives. Furthermore, the combination of krill oil with milk thistle extracts efficiently provides silybin, PUFAs, and choline, which are important nutrients contributing to liver and heart health.

Background: Childhood is a life stage particularly sensitive to malnutrition, including obesity, celiac disease, and food allergies. Zn is an essential element in development, metabolism, and the regulation of inflammatory processes and oxidative stress.

Objective: Zn bioaccessibility (Zn-BA), an indicator of the fraction of Zn available for intestinal absorption, is commonly evaluated through in vitro digestion models. This study applied a novel in vitro digestion-fermentation method to assess Zn-BA in various raw and cooked foods using fecal inocula from children with gluten-related disorders (GRD-CH), obesity (OB-CH), and allergy/intolerance to cow's milk protein (AICM-CH).

Results: The results showed that Zn bioaccessibility in the large intestine (Zn-BALI) values were significantly lower in these clinical groups compared to healthy children (P < 0.001). Mean Zn-BALI values in the large intestine of all foods in GRD-CH are significantly higher (34.7 ± 28.8%) than those determined in OB-CH (29.6 ± 30.1%) and AICM-CH (26.7 ± 30.4%) (P < 0.001). For allergic children, Zn-BALI in animal foods was significantly lower than in plant foods and in both plant and animal foods in the other children's groups (P < 0.05). Zn-BALI in animal foods cooked in liquid media (frying/boiling) was significantly higher than when cooked with hot air (roasting/grilling).

Conclusion: In children, the studied diseases diminished the Zn-BALI, which could negatively affect their appropriate long-term development. In sick children, the higher Zn-BALI in celiac children is probably related to differences in gut microbiota composition, as well as to different metabolites and ligands obtained by the fermentation processes, a fact that should be addressed in future studies.

Background and objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a leading cause of infertility and metabolic dysfunction in women of reproductive age. Despite its high prevalence, current medical treatments are largely symptom-targeted and often prescribed off-label, highlighting the need for safer, integrative interventions. Botanical formulations with phytoestrogenic and insulin-sensitizing properties may represent a holistic therapeutic approach. The study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of a standardized Asparagus racemosus root extract (CL22209) in women diagnosed with PCOS.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (registration no: CTRI/2023/11/059457) was conducted in 60 women aged 20-35 years who were diagnosed with PCOS, as determined by the Rotterdam criteria. Participants received either CL22209 (100 mg daily) or a placebo for 84 consecutive days. The primary endpoint was the change in ovarian volume from the baseline. Secondary outcomes included ovarian cyst size and follicle number, menstrual cycle regularity, androgen-related manifestations, anthropometric indices, hormonal parameters, insulin sensitization, and safety.

Results: After 84 days of supplementation, CL22209 significantly (P < 0.0001) reduced mean ovarian volume (20.98%), cyst size (40.97%), and follicle number (20.56%) as compared to placebo. The supplement showed exploratory indications of improved insulin sensitivity and hormonal profiles. Modest changes were also seen in menstrual patterns and anthropometric measures. CL22209 was well-tolerated over the study period.

Conclusion: CL22209 was well-tolerated and demonstrated broad-spectrum efficacy in women diagnosed with PCOS, improving ovarian morphology, metabolic health, and androgen-mediated symptoms. Future studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up durations would help to further validate these findings and clarify CL22209's role in the management of PCOS.

Background: As the intake of food that has undergone substantial processing increases, the intake of common additives like Emulsifiers, Thickeners, and Stabilizers (ETSs) also increases. Several ETSs have drawn attention due to potential negative health effects.

Objective: This study aimed to map the prevalence and co-occurrence patterns of ETSs across food products on the Norwegian market, examining their distribution across different food groups and products with varying nutritional profiles, including those classified as hyper-palatable.

Design: Food product information, including ingredient lists and nutritional information, was obtained from two online databases used by major grocery chains, thus representative of the Norwegian market and analyzed for presence or absence of ETSs.

Results: Thirty-two percent of food products contained at least one ETS, 60% of these contained more than one ETS, and many ETSs were found more frequently in combinations with others than individually. ETSs were present in a broad range of food products, with the highest percentage seen in the food groups Bakery, Cakes & Pastries, and Desserts & Ice cream. Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (E471) and diphosphates (E450) were the most used food additives. Fifty-eight percent of the food products analyzed were classified as hyper-palatable, though relationships with ETSs were variable across food groups.

Conclusion: This is the first comprehensive analysis of its kind, providing a basemap for future research on the potential health effects of modern food products, particularly considering the limited understanding of how multiple ETSs may interact within biological systems.

Background: Diet and nutrition are essential in preserving oral health as they influence the microbiota balance and modulate inflammatory responses. The relationship between dietary patterns (DPs) and oral diseases such as caries and periodontitis has garnered significant scientific attention. Objective. This review aims to analyze the impact of various DPs, nutrients, and supplementation with probiotics and prebiotics on oral health and microbiota modulation.

Design: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for clinical studies published between 2010 and 2024. A total of 514 articles were retrieved, 78 were evaluated at the full-text level, and 22 original clinical studies were included based on eligibility criteria. These studies were grouped into three categories: dietary interventions without supplementation, probiotic/prebiotic supplementation, and combined strategies.

Results: Healthy DPs, such as the Mediterranean and vegetarian diets, showed anti-inflammatory effects and positively modulated oral microbiota by reducing pathogenic species linked to oral diseases. In contrast, high sugar consumption was associated with increased acidogenic bacterial species and dental caries. Probiotics, particularly strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, demonstrated therapeutic benefits in managing gingivitis, halitosis, and caries, while prebiotics supported the growth of beneficial bacteria, complementing probiotic efficacy.

Discussion: Nutritional interventions modulate oral microbiota by shifting microbial profiles toward eubiosis and attenuating inflammatory responses. The effectiveness of probiotics appears to be strain-dependent and may vary with host conditions, while prebiotics support their colonization and metabolic activity.

Conclusion: Dietary interventions directly influence oral health by modulating microbiota composition and inflammatory responses. Probiotics show clinical promise, though their long-term, strain-specific effects need further study. Prebiotics may enhance these benefits by supporting probiotic activity. A diet rich in plant-based foods and bioactive compounds, combined with targeted supplementation, represents a viable strategy to promote oral health and microbiota balance.

Background: The relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and the risk of laryngeal cancer (LC) is unclear. This study aimed to explore the causal association between 25(OH)D levels and LC risk using the two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms for 25(OH)D levels and LC were extracted from published genome-wide association studies (GWAS) or the Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit (MRC-IEU) Open GWAS project. Univariable MR and multivariable MR analyses were performed. Five MR methods including MR-Egger, weighted-median, inverse-variance weighted (IVW), simple mode, and weighted mode were applied.

Results: Univariable MR analysis identified the fact that genetically predicted higher levels of 25(OH)D were associated with lower odds of LC [IVW: (odds ratio (OR) = 0.9993, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.9987-0.9999; P = 0.019)]. Multivariable MR analyses suggested that genetically predicted higher levels of 25(OH)D were correlated with lower risk of LC after adjusting for pack-years of cigarette smoking (CS) [IVW: (OR = 0.9993, 95% CI, 0.9987-0.9998; P = 0.006)] or both pack-years of CS and weekly alcoholic drinks [IVW: (OR = 0.9993, 95% CI, 0.9988-0.9998; P = 0.011)], but this was not significant after adjusting only for weekly alcoholic drinks [IVW: (OR = 0.9995, 95% CI, 0.9989-1.0001; P = 0.077)].

Conclusions: This MR analyses supported a slight protective effect of higher levels of 25(OH)D on the risk of LC.

Background: Fructose-containing sugars are widely consumed, yet their metabolic effects remain debated.

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of different fructose-containing sugars on glycaemic control, lipid profiles, and uric acid levels in adults.

Methods: A total of 17 study codes from seven clinical trials were included, with intervention durations ranging from 7 h to 49 days. Interventions were classified as fructose, fructose-glucose mixtures (F/G), honey, or sucrose. Comparators varied and included unsweetened beverages, artificial sweeteners, and habitual diets. Meta-analyses using random-effects models assessed outcomes including fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum insulin, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-c), and uric acid. Effect sizes were reported as Hedges' g.

Results: Fructose-glucose mixtures intake significantly increased FBG (Hedges' g = 0.474, P = 0.002) and serum insulin (Hedges' g = 0.592, P < 0.001), while fructose, honey, and sucrose showed no significant effects. Monosaccharide intake modestly increased insulin (P = 0.006). Fructose and sucrose alone did not affect TC, but their combined intake resulted in a significant increase (Hedges' g = 0.412, P = 0.009). No significant changes were observed in LDL-c, VLDL-c, or pooled metabolic outcomes. Fructose intake was strongly associated with increased uric acid (Hedges' g = 1.628, P < 0.001), and pooled analysis of fructose, F/G, and honey also showed a significant increase (Hedges' g = 0.550, P = 0.028).

Conclusion: The short-term consumption of added sugars - fructose, sucrose, and F/G mixtures - had minimal effects on FBG, insulin, triglycerides (TG), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), and VLDL-c. However, significant increases in TC and LDL-c were observed, particularly with fructose and sucrose, indicating adverse effects on lipid metabolism. Some fructose interventions, especially those using high-fructose corn syrup, also showed marked increases in uric acid. While acute metabolic changes were limited, these findings suggest that regular intake of added sugars may elevate cardiometabolic risk. Long-term studies are warranted to clarify chronic effects and inform dietary guidelines.

Background: Public food procurement has the potential to play a significant role in transforming the food system.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the nutritional quality and environmental impacts of food procurement in public upper secondary schools within a large county in Norway.

Design: A cross-sectional study with food procurement data from 35 upper secondary school canteens, analysed using a food-and-nutrient calculation system at the University of Oslo, which also includes a life cycle assessment (LCA) food database.

Results: Food procurement amongst school canteens did not align with guidelines for food and meals in upper secondary schools and recommendations for nutritional considerations in public food procurement. There was considerable variability between the schools' food procurement regarding nutritional quality and environmental impacts. However, on average, high levels of saturated fat and added sugar, as well as inadequate levels of folate, vitamin D, iron and iodine, were observed. Red meat and dairy products exhibited the most significant environmental impacts between the food groups.

Discussion: Few studies have utilised food procurement data to evaluate nutritional quality and environmental impacts of school meals. Using food procurement instead of actual consumption data introduces some uncertainties, including limited knowledge about the amount of food waste, quantities actually consumed and demographics of the canteen users. Identifying key nutrients of concern can be invaluable in guiding meal planning and food procurement, especially in a school setting. Our environmental analysis supported current literature by illustrating the high impact of animal-based foods relative to plant-based foods.

Conclusions: The present study found both nutritional and environmental limitations in food procurement in public upper secondary schools in a large Norwegian county. Encouraging procurement of plant-based proteins and sustainably sourced fish whilst reducing purchases of full-fat dairy products would better align with the guidelines for food and meals in schools and reduce the environmental impact. Moreover, significant variability in procurement practices that do not comply with the guidelines suggests a need for clearer guidance and follow-up.

Objective: The study aims to investigate the causal relationships of serum iron (SI) metabolites with sepsis and cardiomyopathy as two distinct outcomes.

Methods: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data for SI, serum ferritin (SF), serum transferrin (STF), transferrin receptor (TFRC), sepsis, and cardiomyopathy were obtained from the EBI website. Transferrin saturation percentage (TSP) data were from the Genetics of Iron Status Consortium. Due to lack of GWAS for acute sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC), cardiomyopathy GWAS was used as a genetic proxy. Causal relationships were analysed using inverse-variance weighting, MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode methods. Power calculations, Cochran's Q test, MR-PRESSO, and Steiger directionality test were performed for quality control.

Results: In the analysis of iron metabolites and cardiomyopathy, there were 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SI (mean F-statistic = 12.3), 69 SNPs in SF (mean F-statistic = 28.7), 3 SNPs in STF (mean F-statistic = 15.2), 2 SNPs in TFRC (mean F-statistic = 11.8), and 24 SNPs in TSP (mean F-statistic = 22.4); and SF was a risk factor for cardiomyopathy (OR = 1.750, 95%CI: 1.152~2.657, P = 0.009). Furthermore, in the analysis of iron metabolites and sepsis, there were 2 SNPs in SI, 86 SNPs in SF, 4 SNPs in STF, 4 SNPs in TFRC, and 29 SNPs in TSP; and SF was a risk factor of sepsis (OR = 3.079, 95%CI: 1.420~6.679, P = 0.004). The Steiger directionality test confirmed that the causal direction was from ferritin to both outcomes. The results of quality control revealed no heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy among SNPs. In addition, there was no significant change in the MR analysis results after the removal of single SNP.

Conclusion: SF may increase the risk of both sepsis and cardiomyopathy, potentially through inflammation-iron metabolism pathways rather than direct iron toxicity.