Preventive Nutrition and Food Science最新文献

Macrophage infiltration is closely associated with adipocyte-related inflammatory response in obesity. In this study, we explored methylglyoxal-lysine dimer (MOLD)-induced inflammatory responses and metabolic disorders during macrophage and adipocyte interactions using an in vitro conditioned co-culture medium-based. MOLD significantly increased the levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and receptor for AGEs and induced the levels of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 in RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, MOLD-induced inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6, in RAW 264.7 cells. Macrophage-derived conditioned medium induced adipogenesis transcription factors and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. NF-E2 p45-related factor 2 (NRF2) activation suppressed the MOLD-induced expression of inflammation- and adipogenesis-related genes in RAW 264.7 cells. These findings suggest that MOLD stimulates inflammatory response and adipogenesis, and NRF2 may be a key modulator of MOLD-induced inflammation and adipogenesis.

Intestinal inflammation is closely linked to aging, metabolic disorders, and immune dysregulation. Maintaining epithelial homeostasis and regulating immune responses in the gut are critical for systemic health. Natural bioactive compounds are currently garnering attention as potential agents for controlling intestinal inflammation. Among them, Chrysanthemum coronarium has emerged as a promising candidate owing to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of C. coronarium on intestinal homeostasis under inflammatory conditions using a Drosophila model. Intestinal inflammation was induced by feeding Drosophila dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), and C. coronarium's efficacy was assessed across parallel treatment groups. We quantitatively analyzed stem cell proliferation, gut length, intestinal barrier integrity (using the Smurf assay), Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway activation, and cell death. DSS treatment resulted in increased intestinal stem cell (ISC) proliferation, shortened gut length, impaired barrier function, and elevated STAT signaling, all of which were significantly mitigated by cotreatment with C. coronarium. Notably, C. coronarium also restored the compromised gut barrier in DSS-treated Drosophila and suppressed STAT activation, indicating modulation of inflammatory signaling. These findings show that C. coronarium supports intestinal tissue homeostasis by suppressing DSS-induced ISC hyperproliferation, restoring barrier integrity, inhibiting STAT pathway activation, reducing cell death, and improving lifespan under inflammatory conditions. Our results offer experimental evidence supporting C. coronarium as a promising functional food ingredient for preventing inflammatory bowel disease and management of metabolic disorders.

Although inflammation is a protective response to maintain homeostasis, chronic or excessive inflammation is closely associated with various pathological conditions, including autoimmune diseases, cancer, and chronic inflammatory disorders. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of Cinnamomum longepetiolatum (Kosterm.), a medicinal plant from Vietnam, at the cellular level. Although C. longepetiolatum is widely used in traditional medicine, its anti-inflammatory effects remain to be fully elucidated. Herein, we investigated the effects of C. longepetiolatum (Kosterm.) extract (CLE) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophages and explored the molecular mechanisms by which CLE exerts its inhibitory effects. The results showed that CLE significantly suppressed the messenger RNA expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, and inhibited the phosphorylation of key proteins in the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, including p65, NF-kappa-B inhibitor alpha, and IκB kinase-α. Moreover, CLE markedly decreased LPS-induced production of reactive oxygen species, as measured by the 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate probe. These findings demonstrate that CLE possesses strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, supporting its potential as a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Check-all-that-apply (CATA) and napping are cost- and time-efficient alternatives to conventional descriptive analysis for evaluating product sensory characteristics. This study introduces ideal napping as a novel sensory evaluation method that integrates the napping procedure with the concept of constructing an ideal product profile. Ideal napping was used to identify drivers of liking for 12 commercial yakjus (Korean rice wines). When comparing the product configurations generated by the multiple factor analysis between the two methods, a similar representation of product locations, including the ideal product, was observed. The ideal product was characterized by statements such as "fruit-related," "green plum-related," and "sweetness," while the "yeast-related" attributes were far from ideal according to the results of both the methods. Drivers of liking or disliking were identified by partial least squares regression for these two methods and yielded similar results, revealing the main drivers of liking to be "sweetness," "sweet aroma," "fruit flavor and aroma," "green plum flavor," "floral aroma," and "carbonic mouthfeel," while the main drivers of disliking were "acridity," "bitterness," "yeast flavor and aroma," and "mushroom flavor and aroma." Ideal napping was able to provide additional insights into the consumer perception of ideal products with performance similar to CATA. The findings offer practical insights for liquor product development and reformulation. By identifying sensory attributes that influence consumer preferences, manufacturers can better align products with market expectations. Additionally, comparing ideal napping with CATA provides valuable guidance for improving consumer satisfaction with traditional beverages such as yakju.

Peptides produced from soybean tempeh that inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) provide a promising source of novel antihypertensive agents. This study utilized two cysteine proteases (papain and bromelain) to generate ACE inhibitory peptides from the protein hydrolysate of soybean tempeh. The trials were arranged using a Box-Behnken design to achieve optimal hydrolysis conditions. The optimal conditions, which were determined by response surface methodology optimization, were as follows: papain: pH 9, temperature 62.88°C, enzyme/substrate ratio 0.54%, and hydrolysis duration 14.94 h; bromelain: pH 9, temperature 60°C, enzyme/substrate ratio 1%, and hydrolysis duration 1 h. According to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis, the protein hydrolysates displayed peptide bands within the 23－30 kDa range, comprising various peptides from monopeptides to nonapeptides. Moreover, these protein hydrolysates exhibited a more pronounced ACE inhibition than the crude protein extract, with the lowest IC₅₀ value obtained from the protein hydrolysate with papain. These findings offer a conceptual basis for the development of food-derived ACE inhibitory peptides and the highly valued application of soybean tempeh.

Aging is one of the most influential factors in bone metabolism, leading to a universal decline in bone density in both men and women. This study aimed to investigate the effects of eight weeks of resistance training and probiotic supplementation on bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats. A total of 48 female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to six groups: control, sham, ovariectomy, ovariectomy+probiotic supplementation, ovariectomy+resistance training, and ovariectomy+resistance training+probiotic supplementation. Seven days post-ovariectomy, the exercise protocol commenced, consisting of ladder climbing with weights attached to the rat's tail. Additionally, each rat received 1 mL of probiotic supplement daily for eight weeks. The results showed no significant difference in serum phosphorus levels among the groups [P=0.133, F(5, 42)=1.804]. However, significant differences were observed in alkaline phosphatase levels [P<0.001, F(5, 42)=43.05], calcium levels [P=0.016, F(5, 42)=3.186], and bone mechanical strength [P<0.001, F(5, 42)=18.136]. These findings suggest that after eight weeks of probiotic supplementation and resistance training exert synergistic positive effects on serum calcium and alkaline phosphatase levels, as well as bone strength.

Recently, alfalfa (Medicago sativa) has been used to improve the nutritional quality of food products, including gluten-free cookies and biscuits. In the present study, the effects of the addition of alfalfa seed powder on the physicochemical, sensory, and antioxidant properties of low-fat yogurt (1.5%) were investigated. Different concentrations of alfalfa seed powder (Y0, control; Y1, 0.25%; Y2, 0.5%; Y3, 0.75%) were used to prepare yogurt samples, which were stored for 14 days at 4°C. Following enrichment, the acidity and viscosity of the samples increased. However, the pH and syneresis significantly decreased over time with increasing alfalfa seed powder concentrations (P<0.05). The inclusion of alfalfa significantly enhanced the antioxidant properties of samples. On the first day, Y3 showed the highest total phenolic content (27.35±0.25 mg GAE/g), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (51.76%±0.68%), and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) activity (83.65%±0.27%) among all samples (P<0.05). The addition of alfalfa seed powder also significantly improved the yogurt's lipid profile by increasing the levels of α-linolenic acid (6.19%±0.61% in Y3 vs. 0.55%±0.08% in Y0) and linoleic acid (5.88%±0.43% in Y3 vs. 3.59%±0.17% in Y0) and decreasing the levels of saturated fatty acids (P<0.05). During storage, the color parameters of Y3, including lightness and whiteness, significantly decreased, but its yellowness increased compared with that of Y0 (P<0.05). However, the sensory properties did not significantly change in any of the yogurt samples. These results suggest that the addition of alfalfa seed powder enhances the functional and nutritional value of yogurt, and it can be considered as a potential functional food ingredient.

Obesity is a major public health concern because of its association with metabolic disorders (e.g., type 2 diabetes mellitus) and cardiovascular diseases. Natural compounds are increasingly being explored as safer alternatives to synthetic antiobesity drugs. In this study, the antiobesity effects of Abeliophyllum distichum extracts in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and their underlying mechanisms were investigated. Oil Red O staining was employed to assess the effects of A. distichum extracts on adipogenesis and lipid accumulation, and Western blot analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to analyze the key molecular pathways were. Treatment with A. distichum extracts significantly inhibited lipid accumulation and suppressed the expression of adipogenic transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, at the protein and mRNA levels. Furthermore, treatment with A. distichum extracts activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and enhanced the phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), which are key regulators of cellular energy metabolism, while reducing the total ACC expression. These findings indicate that A. distichum extracts exert antiobesity effects by modulating the AMPK signaling pathway and inhibiting adipogenesis. Given these significant bioactive properties, A. distichum extracts have promising application potential as a natural therapeutic agent for treating obesity.

B vitamins are integral in maintaining human health. Owing to its high B vitamin contents, tempeh serves as an excellent plant-based option to achieve an adequate intake of these nutrients through diet. In order to investigate the metabolomic profile of tempeh and modulate the contents of vitamins B₂ and B₃ in it, we employed microbial interventions using two species of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and various inoculum sizes in the soaking step during tempeh production. We thoroughly analyzed the tempeh samples using a wide-targeted metabolomics approach via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 86 metabolites, including sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, and organic acids, were annotated in all the samples. Principal component analysis revealed that the two LAB species led to alterations in the tempeh metabolome with sugars and amino acids separating it. Additionally, variations in inoculum size influenced the metabolomic profile of tempeh as well. Furthermore, the highest B vitamin concentrations in the tempeh samples were observed when 5% v/v Lactiplantibacillus plantarum was incorporated during the soaking process. Specifically 5.312±0.315 mg of vitamin B₂ per 100 g of food and 10.334±0.138 mg of vitamin B₃ per 100 g of food were detected, which corresponded to a 1.22-fold and 1.08-fold increase compared to the contents observed in tempeh obtained from water-soaked soybean. These findings will assist in advancing tempeh production and will also contribute to innovation in the broader field of fermented food processing.

This case-control study aimed to assess the association of dairy-derived digestion-resistant bioactive peptides (BPs) with the risk of prostate cancer (PCa) in a cohort of 50 men with PCa and 99 controls. Dietary, demographic, and anthropometric factors of all participants were assessed. Various types of dairy-derived BPs were determined by an in silico method. High intake of total digestion-resistant BPs, low molecular weight peptides, high molecular weight peptides, phosphorylated residues, disulfide bonds, and antioxidant peptides was not significantly associated with the risk of PCa in the adjusted models (P>0.05), while low-fat [odds ratio (OR): 0.19, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.05－0.66] and total dairy intake (OR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.06－0.79) were inversely associated with PCa risk. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report an association between dairy-derived BPs and the risk of PCa and an inverse association with consumption of dairy products in Iranian men likely due to the low intake of this population. Notably, the BP content of dairy products was not significantly associated with PCa risk.