Molecular Nutrition & Food Research最新文献

Alcohol use disorder accounts for a growing worldwide health system concern. Alcohol causes damages to various organs, including intestine and liver, primarily involved in its absorption and metabolism. However, alcohol-related organ damage risk varies significantly among individuals, even when they report consuming comparable dosages of alcohol. Factor(s) that may modulate the risk of organ injuries from alcohol consumption could be responsible for inter-individual variations in susceptibility to alcohol-related organ damages. Accumulating evidence suggests disruptions in circadian rhythm can exacerbate alcohol-related organ damages. Here we investigated the interplay between alcohol, circadian rhythm, and key tissue cellular processes at baseline, after a regular and a shift in the light/dark cycle (LCD) in mice. Central/peripheral clock expression of core clock genes (CoClGs) was analyzed. We also studied circadian homeostasis of tissue cellular processes that are involved in damages from alcohol. These experiments reveal that alcohol affects the expression of CoClGs causing a central-peripheral dyssynchrony, amplified by shift in LCD. The observed circadian clock dyssynchrony was linked to circadian disorganization of key processes involved in the alcohol-related damages, particularly when alcohol was combined with LCD. These results offer insights into the mechanisms by which alcohol interacts with circadian rhythm disruption to promote organ injury.

Bioactive peptides (BPs) are protein fragments with beneficial effects on metabolism, physiology, and diseases. This review focuses on proteolytic BPs, which are produced by the action of gut microbiota on proteins in food and have demonstrated to influence the composition of gut microbes. And gut microbiota are candidate targets of BPs to alleviate oxidative stress, enhance immunity, and control diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cancer, and immune and neurodegenerative diseases. Despite promising results, further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying the interactions between BPs and gut microbes, and to identify and screen more BPs for industrial applications. Overall, BPs offer potential as therapeutic agents for various diseases through their interactions with gut microbes, highlighting the importance of continued research in this area.

Folate, a vital water-soluble vitamin (B₉), requires specific attention as its recommended daily intake frequently is not reached in countries without mandatory fortification. In this regard, biofortification with microorganisms like Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus offers a compelling approach for enhancing food with natural folates. A randomized, nonblinded, and monocentric human pilot study is conducted to assess the bioavailability of a folate-biofortified fermented whey beverage, comprising 3 intervention days and a controlled replenishment phase before and during the assay. Folate plasma concentration (5-CH₃-H₄folate) is determined using a stable isotope dilution assay and LC-MS/MS detection. Biokinetic parameters (c_max and t_max) are determined, and areas under the curve (AUC) normalized to the basal folate plasma concentration are calculated. An average bioavailability of 17.1% in relation to the 5-CH₃-H₄folate supplement, ranging from 0% to 39.8%, is obtained. These results reiterate the significance of additional research into folate bioavailability in general and dairy products. Further investigations are warranted into folate-binding proteins (FBP) and other potential limiting factors within the food and individual factors. In summary, biofortification via fermentation emerges as a promising avenue for enhancing the natural folate content in dairy and other food products.

Aging can lead to a series of degenerative changes in skeletal muscle, which would negatively impact physical activity and the quality of life of the elderly. Wolfberry contains numerous bioactive substances. It's vital to further explore the mechanisms underlying its healthy effects on skeletal muscle function during aging progress. This study discusses the benefits and mechanisms of aqueous extract of wolfberry (AEW) to protect skeletal muscle from aging-related persistent DNA damage based on its anti-inflammatory activity. It is found that AEW improves muscle mass, strength, and endurance, modulates the expression of Atrogin-1, MyH, and MuRF-1, and decreases oxidative stress and inflammation levels in aging mice, which is consistent with the in vitro results. Mechanistically, AEW inhibits the pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) pathway induced by inflammatory gene activation, suggesting its potential in response to DNA damage. AEW is also observed to mitigate chromatin decompaction. Network pharmacology is conducted to analyze the potential targets of AEW in promoting DNA repair. In conclusion, the study shows the anti-aging effects of AEW on skeletal muscle by promoting DNA repair and reducing the transcriptional activity of inflammatory factors. AEW intake may become a potential strategy for strengthening skeletal muscle function in the elderly.