Plant Foods for Human Nutrition最新文献

Gut microbiota dysbiosis significantly contributes either to metabolic or immune diseases. Modulating the gut microbiome is the subject of intense research, but how immunonutritional ingredients from Chenopodium quinoa contribute to shaping the commensal microbiome and its metabolic capacities has not been determined. Sixty healthy volunteers participated in a double-blind, randomized parallel pilot study with two study arms: high fat-containing cookie and a C. quinoa-based cookie. The composition of the colonic microbiota was quantified by real time qPCR and bacterial metabolism to use carbohydrates was monitored using metabolic strips. Regardless of the order in which the volunteers receive the cookies, the administration of the C. quinoa-based cookie allows establishing and maintaining significant differences in the diversity of the microbiota. C. quinoa-based cookie prevented imbalances in the gut microbiota composition derived from the administration of the high fat-containing cookie. These findings provide new insights into how immunonutritional foods can help to establish steady-state commensalism.

Background and aims: Herbal plants may contribute to reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Yerba mate (YM) emerges as a candidate to improve endothelial function, hemodynamics, and heart rate variability (HRV) due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, potentially decreasing cardiovascular risk. Therefore, studies are needed to assess the effect of YM ingestion on these parameters. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of acute ingestion of YM infusion (hot or cold) on endothelial function, hemodynamics, and HRV.

Methods and results: In this crossover randomized clinical trial, 13 participants (18-40 years old) of both genders were evaluated under three conditions: control (water), cold YM infusion, and hot YM infusion. The primary outcome was endothelial function assessed through flow-mediated dilation (FMD), with the secondary outcomes including blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and HRV. Parameters were evaluated before and after intervention (40' and 80'). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed an intervention effect on FMD (%) (p < 0.05), with both cold and hot YM associated to higher FMD% compared to control, although no time or time*intervention effects were found. ANOVA also showed a time effect on BP, HR, and HRV time and frequency domains variables (p < 0.05), though no time*intervention or intervention effect was observed.

Conclusion: We did not find acute effects of YM infusion on endothelial function, central hemodynamic, or autonomic parameters in healthy adults. These results were not impacted by the temperature of YM. Further studies should assess the dose-response of acute and chronic YM ingestion on endothelial function.

Trial registration: U1111-1289-9324, retrospectively registered in May 2023.

The black puçá (Mouriri pusa) is an unconventional fruit from the Cerrado region of Brazil, commonly known as the jabuticaba of the forest. However, data on its nutritional and phytochemical composition are limited. This study investigated the nutritional composition, physicochemical characteristics, profile of carbohydrates and organic acids, phenolics and flavonoids individual, amino acids composition, bioactive substances, and antioxidant potential in the pulp, peel, and seed fractions of puçá-preto. The results confirm that puçá-preto is an important nutritional source. The main organic acids were malic acid (187.54 - 290.50 mg g^-1) followed by tartaric acid (57.89 - 134.79 mg g^-1). In the black puçá, 8 of the 9 essential amino acids were determined, with arginine presenting the highest results (0.24 - 2.03 g 100 g^-1), followed by glutamic acid (0.34 - 1.87 g 100 g^-1). It presented satisfactory results for vitamin C, carotenoids, and anthocyanins, demonstrating potential for pigment extraction. The pulp and peel showed good antioxidant activity in capturing free radicals by the DPPH method and reducing ferric ions in the pulp. Regarding individual phenolic compounds, quercetin was the major compound in the pulp fraction (4.69 µg mL^-1); on the other hand, kaempferol had greater expression in the peels (20.78 µg mL^-1), while myricetin was quantified only in the seeds (10.67 µg mL^-1). The results showed that black puçá is rich in nutrients and bioactive products and can be fully utilized. The products from black puçá processing can be applied in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Effect of fruit and cereal grain-based beverage studies on the lipid profile are limited. Pomegranate fruit and quinoa grains are known for their abundance of polyphenols with several health beneficial effects. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of oral administration of beverage containing pomegranate juice and quinoa seed extract in obese rats. Different beverage combinations of pomegranate juice and quinoa extracts were formulated and screened by sensory evaluation. The selected beverage product containing 80% pomegranate juice and 20% quinoa extract maintained at 15° Bx was evaluated for its effect on the serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) among the experimental rats. Administration of 5 and 10 mL of beverage product reduced the cholesterol and triglycerides levels ranging between 18.65 and 19.54 and 16.51 to 17.02%, respectively. Similarly, VLDL and LDL were reduced in the obese rats fed with beverage product ranging between 12.93 and 14.69 and 13.66 to 14.64%, respectively. There was increment of 18-20% in the HDL content by administration of the beverage product in obese rats. The impact of the formulated beverage was found to have significant effect on the lipid profile, which can be utilized as a functional food beverage.

Due to increasing consumer awareness, there is a growing demand for healthy foods by replacing synthetic colorants with natural alternatives. Amaranthus is a sustainable rich source of one such natural colorant, namely, betalains. Conventional extraction methods have various challenges, such as high solvent requirements and low extraction yield. To overcome these problems, the present study aims at developing a green extraction method for betalains from Amaranth by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) employing natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES). Of the three Amaranth species screened, the leafy Amaranth is found to have the highest betalains content (24.79 ± 2.88 mg/100 g FW). Among the five NADES screened, lactic acid: fructose was identified as the most efficient solvent with a betalains yield of 79.68 ± 4.81 mg/100 g FW. The Box-Behnken Design (BBD) was employed to identify the best combinations of extraction process parameters. This approach enabled optimization through a reduced number of experiments. Subsequently, a machine learning model was employed to predict yield for all possible process parameter combinations. On identifying the most effective combination process parameters that resulted in the highest possible yield (306.72 mg/100 g FW), the same is experimentally validated (297.28 ± 10.76 mg/100 g FW). UAE employing NADES has resulted in a 3.7-fold increase in the yield of betalains over extraction with NADES alone and a 12-fold increase over conventional extraction. HPLC analysis confirmed that the structure remained intact even after processing. Based on the results, UAE employing NADES was demonstrated to be an attractive extraction methodology for downstream processing of betalains in particular and biomolecules, in general.

The effects of traditional processing techniques-cooking, autoclaving, and roasting-on the physicochemical properties, anti-nutritional factors (ANF), and amino acid composition of red kidney beans (RKB) were investigated. Significant alterations in proximate composition were observed: cooking generally increased protein levels, while roasting decreased fiber content. Autoclaving produced diverse effects. Evaluation of functional properties revealed changes in water activity, density, and color. Cooking increased water activity and lightness, whereas roasting and autoclaving led to darker colors and reduced water activity. Cooking effectively enhanced protein content and reduced ANF, while texture profile analysis (TPA) showed variations in hardness, adhesiveness, and resilience. Autoclaving resulted in softer beans, and cooking influenced adhesiveness and springiness. ANF analysis showed reductions post-processing, especially with cooking and autoclaving. Amino acid composition varied across processing methods, with notable effects from cooking and roasting. Microstructural changes observed via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) suggested improved nutrient bioavailability. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated alterations in the chemical composition of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, attributed to the different processing methods. This comprehensive study highlights the complex interactions between cooking techniques and the physicochemical properties of legumes, providing valuable insights for optimizing their nutritional value. Traditional method of cooking RKB enhances the nutritional value.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is widely used in the production of beer and distilled beverages, generating a nutrient-rich by-product known as brewer's spent grain (BSG). This study investigates the potential of brewer's spent grain flour (BSGF) as a functional ingredient to enhance the nutritional profile of bakery products, specifically chocolate cakes, while contributing to waste reduction in the food industry. The effects of partially substituting wheat flour with BSGF at 40% and 60% levels were assessed. BSGF was found to be rich in protein (15.5 ± 0.14 g/100 g), zinc (7.92 ± 0.44 mg/100 g), and dietary fiber (52.12 g/100 g). Cakes with 60% BSGF substitution showed increased fiber content (69.8 g/100 g) and zinc content (27.04 g/100 g). Organoleptic evaluation indicated that the tenderness of all three cakes did not show statistical differences. However, among the cakes with BSGF, the 40% substitution level was better accepted by consumers, particularly in terms of flavor. These findings suggest that incorporating BSGF into bakery products can improve nutritional value while offering a sustainable approach to food production by valorizing industry by-products.

Adipocyte senescence is one of the major common features correlated with aging, which can also lead to obesity, and aggravated oxidative stress contributes to cell senescence. Sesamol, a lignan from plants found in sesame, has been proven to alleviate obesity. However, the effects and mechanisms of sesamol on adipose tissue senescence remain unclear. In the current research, we used an aged model of obesity by feeding old mice high-fat diet (HFD), and a senescent cell model by treating 3T3-L1 mature adipocytes with repeated exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Both HFD induced aged obesity mice and H₂O₂ treated cells presented features associated with senescence. Additionally, obesity in aged mice accelerated the expression of adipose tissue senescence-associated markers. Notably, the presence of sesamol showed marked activation of Nrf2 and inhibition of p-p38MAPK, along with the suppression of oxidative stress (ROS, MDA, SOD), inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNFα) and cell cycle inhibitors (p53, p21, p16). A pretreatment of ML385, an inhibitor of Nrf2, reversed the effects induced by sesamol treatment. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that obesity contributed to deteriorated adipose tissue senescence during aging. Furthermore, sesamol, acted as an activator of Nrf2 and exerted negative impacts on the activation of p38MAPK, which were associated with amelioration of adipose senescence, thereby indicating it could be a potential nutritional intervention for preventing and treating aging-related disorders.

Alcohol-induced health damage has become an increasing global public health concern. Anthocyanins exhibit essential biological activities, including antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and lipid reduction. This study investigates the rapid intervention effects and mechanisms of anthocyanin-rich blueberry extract in mitigating acute alcohol exposure in mice, aiming to uncover its novel nutritional roles. Eight-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fasted for 6 h and randomly assigned to three groups (CON, EOH, and EOH-BE, n = 8) for the experimental study. The results demonstrated that 1 h after alcohol exposure, BE significantly enhanced the behavioral performance of mice, lowered blood ethanol levels and liver function markers, and alleviated hepatic pathological alterations. GSEA results of KEGG pathways indicated that BE primarily affected pathways associated with nutrient digestion and absorption, energy substance metabolism, unsaturated fatty acids biosynthesis, and gastric cancer, facilitating rapid intervention in acute alcohol exposure in mice. These findings confirm that anthocyanin-rich blueberry extract effectively mitigates the health risks linked to acute alcohol exposure, providing new insights into early intervention and management strategies for alcohol-induced disorders.

Gluten proteins in cereal grains are often considered unsafe for health. Indeed, the dissemination of misinformation through various sources has led to a widespread misconception that the consumption of gluten by healthy individuals results in adverse health consequences and contributes to obesity. In recent years, many health-conscious consumers have started reducing or avoiding gluten consumption without a medical recommendation. Consequently, the adoption of gluten-free diets has expanded significantly. This study compared 39 gluten-free products and their gluten-containing counterparts for energy, sugar, dietary fiber content, and price. We found that, on average, gluten-free products available to United States consumers contained significantly less protein and more sugar and calories. Furthermore, on average, gluten-free products are more expensive than gluten-containing products. Our finding may serve as a guide for dietitians, nutritionists, and legislators in introducing a gluten-free prescription list for individuals with celiac disease, wheat allergy, and non-celiac wheat sensitivity.