Food frontiers最新文献

The cover image is based on the Letter Hyperspectral guidance for summer tea processing: Enhancing taste and aroma through short-term cycled heaping by Hujing Cao et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/fft2.462.

A high-salt diet can induce hypertension, so salt reduction can prevent hypertension. γ-Glutamyl peptides (GGPs) have obvious taste-enhancing effects, while their contents in natural foods are relatively low. Yeast protein rich in Glu/Gln is a good precursor for the preparation of GGPs. In this study, yeast protein-derived GGPs were prepared through hydrolysis and transpeptidation reactions, followed by sensory evaluation and E-tongue analysis. Peptide sequences were identified by LC−MS/MS and screened for molecular docking. The optimal reaction conditions were hydrolysis for 4 h, enzyme concentration of 16 U/g, and transpeptidation for 4 h. GGPs could increase salt and umami intensity by 60.78% and 40.93% based on sensory evaluation, 22.52%, and 16.40% according to E-tongue analysis. Fifteen γ-glutamyl peptides with different peptide lengths were selected for molecular docking. Molecular docking confirmed their binding to calcium-sensing receptors (CaSr) through hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interaction, while interaction between CaSR receptor and γ-glutamyl di-, tri-, and oligo-peptides varied in binding energy. The stimulation received by CaSR lasted a longer time and varied in intensity. It was further proved that the flavor of mixed peptides has a layered sense and can give people a rich taste experience. Overall, yeast protein-derived GGPs can enhance salt and umami taste, which can reduce salt usage without compromising taste.

Matcha green tea, renowned for its rich composition of catechin, theanine, caffeine, and fiber-bound polyphenols, distinguishes itself with heightened bioavailability and promising potential in addressing obesity and metabolic disorders. Our comprehensive analysis delved into matcha's components and antioxidant activity. Employing a multi-omics approach, we explored the synergistic effects of matcha combined with voluntary exercise, focusing on anti-obesity outcomes in high-fat diet mice. Our findings revealed that matcha co-exercise significantly mitigates glycolipid metabolism abnormalities, increasing serum antioxidant enzymes. This combination notably influences peripheral metabolism, especially amino acids and their metabolisms. Moreover, the observed activation of the BMP-SMAD signaling in the hypothalamus implies a central regulatory role mediating matcha co-exercise effects. Collectively, these findings underscore matcha's potential as a robust adjunct in mitigating obesity through antioxidant and metabolic regulation, supporting its use as a promising supplement to enhance exercise benefits in combating obesity.

Amidst a global food crisis, securing sustainable food sources is vital. Bivalves such as Naked Clams, historically known as shipworms, offer a promising solution due to their low environmental impact, high nutritional value, and rapid growth rates. Contrary to their image as pests, Naked Clams are the fastest growing bivalves and have various health benefits. Believed to be the world's first aquaculture species, cultivated by Aboriginal Australians 8000 years ago, they are a delicacy in Southeast Asia. Public perception of Naked Clams remains largely unexplored, hindered by their association as pests and worm-like appearance. This study assesses the perception of Naked Clams through social media, analyzing 40 posts across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, with millions of views and likes. Analysis of nearly 8000 comments revealed that public perception was split, though generally more positive than negative. Concerns included appearance, potential religious dietary conflicts, and the risk of parasites, which can be addressed with educational campaigns. Importantly, 84% of commenters who tried Naked Clams reported liking them. Naked Clams are noted for their high protein content, nutrient density, and health benefits, and are enjoyed in diverse culinary forms, from traditional raw dishes, to battered calamari-style street foods, to innovative recipes like Naked Clam ice cream. This study highlights the untapped potential of Naked Clams in global diets and calls for further exploration into moving Naked Clams from “gross to gourmet.”

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract in China; its incidence rates and mortality rates have been on the rise in recent years, ranking third in terms of incidence and second in mortality. Rational dietary intervention plays an important role in human health, and prevention and adjuvant treatment of CRC through dietary supplementation is the most ideal and safest way to treat the disease at present. More importantly, dietary protein is the basis of our diet and the key nutrient to maintain the normal function of the human body. Therefore, this narrative review delivered an overview of the common causes and therapeutic treatments for CRC. It emphasized the importance of dietary interventions, with a particular focus on elucidating the distinct regulatory impacts of plant proteins, animal proteins, and their mixed proteins.

Circadian clock serves as a regulator of gastrointestinal health, and the disruption of circadian rhythm may trigger the dysregulation of the intestinal barrier functions. This study investigated the effectiveness of capsaicin (CAP) in mitigating intestinal barrier dysfunction induced by circadian disruption in male SPF C57BL/6J mice. Our findings indicated that CAP supplementation attenuated abnormal weight gain, alterations in serum lipid levels, and misalignment in hepatic and colonic circadian clock gene expressions in mice caused by constant darkness (CD) treatment. The restoration of the intestinal barrier integrity was also observed through the increase in mucosal thickness and goblet cell numbers. Both the diversity and the circadian rhythm of gut microbiota were improved in CAP-treated group. Correlation analysis indicated that CAP could modulate the gut microbiota by affecting intestinal barrier function and systemic metabolism in CD-treated mice. These results highlight the potential of CAP as a functional food component in maintaining the intestinal barrier homeostasis through regulating gut microbiota.

The globalization of food distribution has made it necessary to ensure the delivery of fresh food to the consumers. Protein-rich foods produce a significant amount of tyramine when spoiled. Therefore, it was envisaged to develop localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)—sensor for monitoring tyramine content in beef, mackerel, and cheese. For this purpose, the sensors were developed by coating the LSPR chip with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) followed by conjugation of tyramine-specific peptide (TYR1). The TYR1 was synthesized and screened by phage display and binding efficiency was evaluated by DockThor. The optimized LSPR sensor showed highest binding efficiency at TYR1 concentration of 20 µg/mL with reaction time of 40 min. The sensor also showed an excellent detection range for beef, mackerel, and cheese were 0.01–10 ppb, 0.01–10 ppm, and 0.01–10 ppb, respectively, in comparison to standard. These findings indicated that this sensor can be used as a promising tool for on-site monitoring of food quality.

Mycoprotein is critical in a dietary shift toward a more sustainable food system. However, the strain improvement for enhancing mycoprotein via genetic manipulation is lacking. Here, we investigated the functions of proteins related to ubiquitin and small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) modifications using a gene-knockout strategy in Fusarium venenatum, a mycoprotein fungus closely related to the fungal genetics model species Fusarium graminearum. Among the candidate genes, we specifically focused on the putative SUMO-associated gene UBQ14 based on phenotypic characteristics in F. graminearum. In the FvUBQ14 knockout mutant in F. venenatum, nutritional profiles showed prominent differences in amino acid and fatty acid composition compared to the wild-type strain. Furthermore, through proteomic analysis, we confirmed that the loss of FvUBQ14 leads to metabolic changes, particular in amino acid biosynthesis and degradation, resulting in an increase in amino acid composition in F. venenatum. Our findings provide new insights into filamentous fungal food improvement through genetic engineering and contribute to advances in alternative protein industry.

Baicalin is a natural flavonoid shown to attenuate inflammation, tumor, and cardiovascular diseases. However, its effect on endothelial function in diabetes remains unclear and was investigated in current study. A high-fat diet (60% kcal fat diet) was used to feed male C57BL/6 mice for 14 weeks to build a diet-induced obese (DIO) diabetic mouse model. Baicalin (50 and 100 mg/kg/day) or vehicle was applied to DIO mice by oral gavage in the last 4 weeks. Separated mouse aortic rings were induced by high glucose and primary rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs) were stimulated by advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and cotreated with or without varying doses of baicalin and 5′AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor Compound C. Forty-eight-hour exposure to high glucose impaired acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxations in mouse aortas and produced excessive levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Similar phenomenon was observed in aortas from DIO mice. Baicalin treatment could alleviate these damage through preventing expression and translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 pathway, accomplished with decreased expressions of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) as well as proinflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). These improvements were AMPK-dependent as Compound C abolished the effects. Similar beneficial effects of baicalin and inhibitory effects of Compound C were observed in AGEs (200 µg/mL, 24 h)-induced RAECs. To conclude, baicalin protects against vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction associated with diabetes through suppression on inflammation and oxidative stress via activating AMPK.

In the realm of experimental and epidemiological research, the impact of endotoxemia caused by obesity on male fertility is widely acknowledged. However, the existing body of evidence lacks rigorous studies to substantiate this notion. To address this gap, we have selected protocatechuic acid (PCA) as a potential inhibitor of endotoxemia induced by obesity. This selection is further supported by our utilization of a male model of C57BL/6J mice induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and the fecal microbiota transplantation assay. Our findings reveal a negative correlation between semen quality and endotoxin levels in the mice model induced by an HFD. Furthermore, intervention with PCA resulted in the restoration of testicular morphology, sperm traits, and function. The transplantation of PCA did not exhibit restorative effects on semen quality, but it did effectively prevent obesity-induced intestinal leakage and endotoxemia. By directly enhancing antioxidant capacity, PCA successfully reversed the fertility reduction caused by obesity. These findings offer substantiation that endotoxemia does not play a significant role in the diminished fertility observed in obese males and propose that the inclusion of dietary antioxidant supplementation can potentially restore male fertility.