Food & Nutrition Research最新文献

Objective: Honey, bee pollen and propolis are natural apicultural products whose chemical composition and biological activities are influenced by the floral characteristics of the regions in which they are produced. In this study, the phenolic profiles and antioxidant properties of honey, pollen and propolis samples collected from two distinct altitudinal zones (Yamadağ and Battalgazi) and derived from two different bee genotypes (Apis mellifera caucasica and Apis mellifera carnica) were systematically compared.

Methods: The phenolic content of the ethanol extracts was quantified in terms of total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). The phenolic composition was identified using HPLC-PDA (high-performance liquid chromatography - photodiode array detector), calibrated with 26 phenolic standards. The antioxidant activity was assessed using the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and diphenylpicrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity.

Results: The findings of this study demonstrate that both regional flora and bee genotype significantly affect the phenolic composition and antioxidant capacities of these bee products. Specifically, A. m. carnica was found to be more influential for pollen production, while A. m. caucasica exhibited greater significance in propolis. Furthermore, the results highlighted that, in terms of phenolic content and antioxidant potential, propolis exhibited approximately 300 times the richness of honey and 20 times the richness of pollen.

Conclusion: Thus, the phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of bee products vary depending on factors such as regional flora, bee genotype and geographical location.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common metabolic complications during pregnancy, and is associated with a significantly increased risk of postpartum chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) is recommended for glycaemic management in GDM patients, its long-term impact on kidney health remains unclear.

Objective: To address this knowledge gap, this study aimed to investigate the association between LCD and the risk of CKD in women with a history of GDM, providing evidence for optimising postpartum dietary intervention strategies.

Method: GDM data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database (2009-2018) were used, with LCD as an independent variable and CKD as a dependent variable. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to investigate factors related to CKD. Stratified and sub-group analyses were conducted to investigate association of LCD with CDK. Restricted cubic splines (RCS) were utilised to analyse non-linear relationship between the two variables.

Results: There were 701 samples in all (CKD: n = 130; non-CKD: n = 571). The LCD score and CKD risk were shown to have a significant positive association (Odds Ratio [OR] > 1, P < 0.05) in multivariate weighted logistic regression model. The link between LCD score and CKD was strongly impacted by race, body mass index (BMI), and smoking status (P for interaction < 0.05). In patients who presently smoke and use alcohol, stratified analysis showed a substantial positive correlation (P < 0.05) between LCD score and CKD risk. RCSs curve indicated a potential linear relationship (P-non-linear = 0.9561) between risk of LCD and CKD, with an LCD score of 10 serving as the criterion threshold for CKD risk and OR < 1 when LCD < 10, signifying a protective factor.

Conclusion: Among women with GDM, higher LCD scores showed a significant positive correlation with CKD risk, particularly in sub-groups with smoking or alcohol consumption habits. The study suggests the need for careful evaluation of the long-term renal safety of LCD and highlights the importance of developing individualised dietary plans for high-risk populations.

Abeliophyllum distichum (Miseon tree), a native Korean plant, is known for the high phenolic content in its leaves. The ethanolic leaf extracts of A. distichum have shown antioxidant, anti-obesity, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, studies on its potential to improve colitis are limited. This study aimed to determine whether the ethanolic extract of A. distichum leaves (ADE) could alleviate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. The mice were divided into three groups, and the experimental group was given 300 mg/kg ADE for 4 weeks. One week before the end of the experiment, 3% DSS was added to the drinking water to induce colitis. The clinical symptoms of colitis and damage to colon tissue, including the increase in Enterobacteriaceae abundance and a decrease in Bifidobacterium in the colon, were evaluated during DSS treatment. DSS overactivated the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway, resulting in excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In contrast, ADE alleviated the DSS-induced colitis symptoms, protected against colonic tissue damage, and restored the balance of Enterobacteriaceae and Bifidobacterium levels in the colon. Moreover, ADE effectively inhibited the DSS-induced overactivation of the NF-κB signaling pathway within the colon and mitigated abnormal inflammatory responses. These findings suggest that ADE protects against colitis by modulating the growth of some intestinal strains and the NF-κB pathway in the colon, supporting its potential as a natural agent.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) on infection level, nutrition condition and prognosis of patients with sepsis.

Method: According to the fecal elastase-1 (FE1) level, 68 sepsis patients who were diagnosed with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) from 2014.11 to 2015. 12 in our hospital were randomly divided into two groups: regular nutritional support (RNS) group or PERT group. A total of 15 patients were dropout for various reasons.Finally, 25 patients were enrolled in PERT group and 28 in RNS group. APACHEII score, SOFA score, inflammatory biomarkers including C-reaction protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC), procalcitonin (PCT), nutrition markers including prealbumin (PA), transferrin (TFN), retinol binding protein (RBP), creatinine/height index (CHI) were recorded at the day 1 (D1), day7 (D7) and day14 (D14) since they were admitted in ICU. These data were compared between and within the two groups chronologically. Also, the duration of vasoactive drug using (DVAD), mechanical ventilation (DMV), length of stay in ICU (LOS) and survival rate within 14 days were compared between the two groups.

Results: There were no differences in general information (Age and gender) between PERT and RNS groups. Compared with the RNS group, CRP, WBC and PCT declined significantly at D14 in the PERT group. Especially, CRP declined significantly over time in both groups. In addition, compared with the RNS group, in the PERT group at D14, nutrition markers, including PA, TFN, RBP and CHI increased significantly, APACHEII score and SOFA score decreased significantly. And DVAD, DMV and LOS were significantly shortened in PERT group, but the survival rate within 14 days was not significantly changed.

Conclusion: The PERT can improve infection level, nutrition condition and prognosis of patients with sepsis. And the underlying mechanism may be related to improve pancreatic exocrine insufficiency of these patients.

Background: Neuroinflammation is a key pathological feature in many neurodegenerative diseases, and the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway is a central mediator of this response. Aged garlic extract (AGE) is a functional food with well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but its role in mitigating neuroinflammation remains unclear.

Objective: This study investigates the effects of AGE on neuroinflammation by modulating the NF-κB signaling pathway using multi-omics analyses and experimental validation.

Design: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV2 microglial cells and LPS-treated C57BL/6 mice were used to assess the effects of AGE. Transcriptomics, metabolomics, and network pharmacology approaches identified potential targets and pathways, focusing on NF-κB signaling. In vitro and in vivo models were employed to evaluate behavioral, biochemical, and histological outcomes.

Results: AGE reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2) in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells and suppressed microglial activation and neuronal damage in LPS-induced mice. Transcriptomic analysis showed that NF-κB pathway inhibition mediated these effects, with molecular docking confirming interactions between aged garlic compounds and NF-κB targets (NF-κB2 and NF-κB3).

Conclusion: AGE attenuates neuroinflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway, improving cognitive and motor functions, and reducing neuronal injury in experimental models. These findings suggest aged garlic as a promising neuroprotective agent against neuroinflammation.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.29219/fnr.v62.1323.].

Background: Macroalgae have been an important dietary component in many parts of the world for centuries, especially in Eastern Asia. In recent years, a combination of factors has contributed to enhance the use of macroalgae as food in the global market. Since macroalgae as a commercially available food are new in many countries, only a handful of studies have investigated their use and consumption.

Objective: In this tri-continental survey, we included three distant countries, each known for macroalgae producers with a long coast: Chile, China, and Norway. Our objective was to compare current uses of macroalgae as food, in a convenient sample dominated by male and female adult students.

Design: A macroalgae-specific food frequency questionnaire with a 4-week recall period was used to assess intake frequencies, species, and product types among a convenient sample of Norwegian, Chinese, and Chilean students.

Results: A total of 585 respondents who answered the survey considered macroalgae as appealing foods due to their flavor (23-67%) and nutritional benefits (49-90%). This study reported lack of awareness about potential food safety issues in this group. In the samples from Chile and China, tradition was important in terms of consumption of macroalgae, while food novelty seemed to be a major factor in the Norwegian group. However, all three countries consumed a similar number of species (17-19) and products containing macroalgae (17-18). Chinese respondents especially stood out for their frequency of consuming different products containing algae.

Discussion and conclusion: A variety of species were found the diet in all the population groups, either in pure form or as an ingredient in a variety of products. Further research on macroalgae intake in Norway, including amounts consumed, would be useful to develop food regulations and, furthermore, recommendations that are commonly known to consumers.

Background and objective: CL19183, or Theolim™, is a novel, proprietary combination of standardized extracts of Citrus aurantifolia fruit rind and Theobroma cacao seeds. Earlier, CL19183 supplementation demonstrated thermogenic activity and weight loss in high-fat diet-induced obese rats. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical study (RCT) assessed whether CL19183 supplementation reduced body weight (BW) and improved body composition (BC) in overweight adults.

Methods: The present study recruited 120 overweight male and female subjects (25-55 years) [body mass index (BMI) of 25-29.9 kg/m²] and randomly assigned to receive daily either CL19183 (450 mg; n = 60) or a matched placebo (n = 60) over 16 weeks. The primary efficacy outcome measure was BW reduction in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. Other efficacy measures included BC using Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), waist and hip circumferences, resting metabolic rate (RMR) using indirect calorimetry, serum lipid profile, and serum biomarkers utilizing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The safety parameters were performed, including complete serum biochemistry, hematology, and urine analysis.

Results: Post-trial, CL19183 supplementation resulted in significant reductions in BW (4.25 ± 1.35 vs. 0.96 ± 1.18 kg; p = 0.0001; CI [confidence interval]: 1.47, 8.59) and BMI (1.57 ± 0.53 vs 0.36 ± 0.46 kg/m², p < 0.0001; CI: 0.87, 2.11), from baseline as compared to placebo. Similarly, total body fat (4.28 ± 1.56 vs. 0.85 ± 1.06 kg; p < 0.0001; CI: 2.35, 7.79) and fat percentage (p < 0.0001) were also reduced from baseline in the CL19183 group vs. placebo. At baseline, after a single dose of CL19183 administration and after 16 weeks, RMR was significantly increased (p < 0.0001 vs. placebo). After 8 and 16 weeks of supplementation, CL19183 significantly increased serum adiponectin and glucagon-like peptide-1 and decreased ghrelin levels vs. baseline and placebo. No major adverse events were reported.

Conclusion: CL19183 supplementation was well-tolerated and led to significant BW reduction and improvements in BC over 16 weeks.

Background: Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are associated with negative health outcomes, but current classification systems, including the dominant NOVA system, are typically not suitable for identifying which factors of these foods may be harmful. New ways of defining UPFs are needed to better understand how food processing affects health.

Objective: To identify classification systems that include a category for ultra-processed or highly processed foods with a focus on comparing their definitions and provide a current evaluation of available alternatives to NOVA.

Design: A systematic literature review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, with the search strategy developed in collaboration with a university librarian. The literature search was completed on 18 December 2023, using databases Medline, Embase (via Ovid), and Web of Science. No human participants were included.

Results: We identified six systems - NOVA, European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), University of North Carolina (UNC), UnProcessed Pantry Project (UP3), and Siga - that categorize highly processed food or UPFs. These systems differ in structure and detail, with NOVA, EPIC, and Siga providing specific examples of processing techniques. Regarding additives, NOVA, Siga, and UP3 include them explicitly, with Siga offering the most detailed categorization based on additives and ingredients. Siga also includes quantitative measures for nutritional quality, including cut-offs for sugar, fat, and salt, while IFPRI and UP3 address nutritional quality non-quantitatively.

Discussion: When comparing NOVA's UPF category with the highly processed food or UPF categories used in the other five identified systems, we found that none specifies processing techniques clearly. Both NOVA and Siga define additives unique to their UPF categories. Siga stands out by addressing the diverse risks associated with additives and offering quantitative nutritional quality criteria, thus addressing some of the criticisms of how UPFs are commonly defined.

Conclusions: Siga represents a valuable, but not final, step forward in classifying UPFs and could serve as a reference in developing a new operational definition for UPFs.

Background: Cisplatin is widely utilized in the treatment of solid malignant tumors due to its potent anticancer effects through the inhibition of cell division. However, its clinical use is often limited by significant adverse effects, particularly nephrotoxicity. Recent research has focused on natural products as potential mitigators of cisplatin-induced kidney toxicity. Allium hookeri (A. hookeri), a traditional food and herbal medicine in Southeast Asia, is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its protective effects against nephrotoxicity remain unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of A. hookeri against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells.

Methods: HEK-293 cells were treated with cisplatin (50 μM) with or without A. hookeri water extract (AHWE) and ethanol extract (AHEE) for 24 h. Cell viability was assessed using MTT assays, and nuclear morphology was examined through Hoechst 33342 staining. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was quantified using ROS detection assays, and nitric oxide (NO) production was measured through Griess reaction assays. Protein and mRNA expression levels were analyzed using western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) techniques.

Results: Cisplatin treatment (50 μM) significantly increased ROS production compared to untreated cells within 24 h. Both AHWE and AHEE treatments markedly attenuated ROS generation. Additionally, AHWE and AHEE significantly inhibited NO production and downregulated the expression of inflammation-related genes. The treatments also suppressed mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) protein expression. Pretreatment with AHWE and AHEE decreased the Bax/Bcl-2 expression ratio, demonstrating a dose-dependent inhibition of apoptotic features.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that A. hookeri exerts protective effects against cisplatin-induced kidney damage by modulating MAPK signaling, thereby reducing inflammation and apoptosis in HEK-293 cells. A. hookeri represents a promising therapeutic candidate for the prevention and treatment of nephrotoxicity.