Food frontiers最新文献

Mesopelagic species are unexplored novel low-trophic sources of essential micronutrients and may contribute to combat malnutrition. In this study, common mesopelagic species from the North Sea including Northern krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica), glacier lanternfish (Benthosema glaciale), and Muller's pearlside (Maurolicus muelleri) were supplemented in mice feed using a Western diet recipe. The metabolic outcomes were subsequently compared to those of ordinary seafood. Consumption of mesopelagic species induced a large variation in weight gain, in the following order: lanternfish (7.1 g) > krill (14.4 g) > control (19.7 g) > pearlside (22.6 g). The lanternfish-supplemented diet containing wax esters reduced weight gain and obesity and improved insulin sensitivity. The wax esters from the lanternfish-supplemented diet were efficiently absorbed, with more than 92% of the fatty alcohols being assimilated. The inclusion of lanternfish and pearlside led to improvements in the fatty acid (FA) composition in the mouse liver, evidenced by increased levels of essential long-chain polyunsaturated FAs and an increased n-3/n-6 ratio (0.7 to 1.45 vs. 0.46 in control group). Notably, no adverse effects were found in mice fed pearlside and lanternfish, although an elevated level of fluoride in femur bone was observed in mice fed a diet supplemented with krill followed by reduced sperm concentration and sperm motility. Collectively, our findings underscore the diverse array of metabolic and physiological effects induced by the consumption of mesopelagic species. Furthermore, these species can be considered as good sources of n-3 FAs and essential vitamins, suggesting their potential value to human nutrition.

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G), an abundant and widely utilized anthocyanin monomer, has been shown to significantly inhibit cholesterol absorption. Building on our previous research demonstrating the role of Lactobacillus as a specific intestinal microflora associated with C3G-mediated cholesterol absorption inhibition, the present study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of C3G on high-fat diet–induced cholesterol absorption. Results indicate that C3G significantly reduced total cholesterol and triglyceride levels while suppressing red grease formation in Caco-2 cells. In vivo, C3G ameliorated blood lipid levels and mitigated small intestinal damage, as evidenced by restored villus length and basal thickness. Additionally, C3G upregulated intestinal farnesoid X receptor (FXR) mRNA expression and inhibited the expression of key cholesterol absorption proteins, Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 and acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 2. Furthermore, C3G increased short-chain fatty acid content and activated ileal bile acid-binding protein expression. C3G also inhibited intestinal bile acid (BA) reabsorption, promoted fecal BA excretion, and obstructed cholesterol emulsification. Moreover, C3G modulated gut microbiota abundance and diversity, increasing the abundance of Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, Coprococcus, Ruminococcus, and Butyricicoccus. In conclusion, our findings suggest that C3G inhibits cholesterol absorption by reshaping intestinal flora composition and regulating the FXR-BAs axis. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the use of C3G as a raw material for inhibiting cholesterol absorption.

In the realm of plant genomics, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technology emerges as a potent tool, employing a reverse genetic strategy to elucidate plant gene functions. Recognized for its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and broad applicability, VIGS facilitates the exploration of novel genes in vegetable crops and unveils mechanisms underlying disease resistance and stress response. Moreover, it offers vital support for crop enhancement and molecular breeding. In the context of tomato biology, VIGS holds promise for transformative advancements, spanning from genomics and variety improvement to molecular breeding. This review comprehensively analyzes the pivotal breakthroughs achieved in tomato physiology through global applications of VIGS and explores its strengths and limitations. Future prospects suggest VIGS's pivotal role in reshaping tomato biology, modulating secondary metabolism, and bolstering stress resilience. By delineating diverse applications of VIGS technology, this review fosters innovation in tomato research, opening new vistas for its utilization in plant gene functional analysis.

Hyperglycemia and diabetes are common metabolic disorders. It is considered a safe and effective strategy to screen active ingredients from food and herbs for controlling blood sugar levels. Quinic acid (QA) is a natural polyphenolic acid with various health-promoting properties. In this study, QA was found to exhibit a potent inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase activity, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 5.46 mM. This inhibitory property surpassed that of three common organic acids including gallic acid, malic acid, and citric acid. A combination of 25% acarbose (0.5 mM) and 75% QA (5 mM) (v/v) exhibited synergistic inhibition of α-glucosidase activity. Enzyme kinetics, fluorescence spectra, and molecular docking analyses indicated that QA acted as an uncompetitive inhibitor of α-glucosidase, with hydrogen bonds playing a key role in the intermolecular interactions. Moreover, QA was found to effectively inhibit three major nonenzymatic glycation products including advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs), fructosamine, and α-dicarbonyl in a dose-dependent manner, outperforming the positive control aminoguanidine (AG) within the tested concentration range. Utilizing a Caco-2 cell model, QA demonstrated the ability to inhibit the transmembrane absorption of glucose. This study highlighted QA as a promising food functional factor that had been overlooked in the past, offering potential benefits in improving hyperglycemia, diabetes, and associated complications through the inhibition of α-glucosidase, nonenzymatic glycosylation, and glucose uptake.

This study investigated the effect of dietary interventions targeting gut microbiota on exercise performance in mice. Analysis of the gut microbiota of individuals with varying levels of physical activity revealed enrichment of Eubacterium rectale and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the active population. Through in vitro fecal fermentation experiments, dietary factor combinations that promote the abundance of these bacteria were identified. Dietary interventions, including E. rectale supplementation, FAG combination (gavage of Fructus Arctii extract, Agaricus blazei Murrill polysaccharides, and galactooligosaccharides mixture), and CFG combination (gavage of curcumin, Fructus Arctii extract, and galactooligosaccharides mixture), significantly improved mouse exercise performance, increased glycogen accumulation, regulated serum biochemical parameters, and increased short-chain fatty acid and fatty acid amide levels in feces. Metagenomic sequencing revealed alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota. Fecal metabolome analysis highlighted changes in metabolites related to lipids, organic acids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. These findings suggest that E. rectale and dietary interventions positively affect exercise performance by modulating the gut microbiota and associated metabolites.

This study investigates the impact of environmental factors on the quality changes of mackerel (Scomber japonicus), a globally significant fish species valued for its high nutritional content, especially its unsaturated fatty acids and proteins. In South Korea, marine products like mackerel undergo auction, sorting, packaging, and transportation. Assessing the fish freshness and quality during these processes, before it reaches consumers, is crucial. This research aimed to track the changes in mackerel quality indicators after the auction and correlate them with the environmental factors affecting transportation. Using a transportation model established for both summer and winter, mackerel samples were categorized by their weight (200 and 300 g). Results show poorer quality indicators in summer compared to winter, particularly in the 200 g group. Microbiological indicators such as the total viable count (0.923) and total coliforms (0.958) were most strongly correlated with the season, whereas the lipid oxidation indicators acid value (0.627) and peroxide value (0.536) were moderately correlated with the season. Interestingly, the wider standard deviation distribution observed in summer suggests that individual mackerel characteristics may influence the degree of quality changes. These findings offer insights into mackerel quality fluctuations during auction and transportation, aiding in future efforts to maintain seafood quality amidst climate change.

The interaction between diet and the immune system has garnered considerable attention, especially regarding the immunomodulatory effects of food-derived peptides. These peptides, derived from dietary proteins, exhibit diverse mechanisms of action, influencing cytokine production, immune cell function, and gut barrier integrity. Although there are numerous in vitro and animal studies supporting its therapeutic potential in immune-related diseases, clinical relevance requires further investigation. This review synthesizes current knowledge on food-derived peptides as immunomodulators, highlighting clinical insights and discussing challenges in their application. Additionally, it expands beyond peptides to encompass various dietary compounds influencing immune function. By integrating structural and functional diversity, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of how nutrition shapes immune responses, offering insights for personalized health strategies.

The prevalence of food allergies is increasing worldwide, affecting approximately 8% of children. Food allergies that develop early in life can persist throughout an individual's life. Dietary patterns, particularly those involving fatty acids (FAs), play an important role in the regulation of immune cells, thereby affecting the development of food allergies. Aimed to investigate the effects of different FA patterns on food allergies, this study established a sensitised infant rat model and fed it with feeds containing different types of FAs. We then assessed the clinical allergy symptoms, immune balance, and gut microbiota. Our animal allergy model revealed that diets rich in specific FAs exerted different regulatory effects on food allergies. Notably, n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated FAs exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on food allergies, accompanied by a reduction in allergy symptoms, lower serum antibody levels, and modulation of T cell differentiation. By contrast, high levels of medium-chain FAs promoted the occurrence and progression of food allergies. In addition, various dietary FA patterns have varying impacts on the gut microbiota, influencing overall diversity, microbial composition, and function. N-3 long-chain polyunsaturated FAs may be associated with a significant increase in the copy number of 15-cis-phytoene synthase in the intestinal flora. These findings suggest that dietary intake of different FAs during early life can affect an individual's susceptibility to food allergies by shaping the gut microbiota, which may offer a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of food allergies.

Excessive intake of red meat may cause damage to colorectal tissue but not cause significant damage to the small intestine. However, the underlying mechanism is not clear. In this study, the effect of myoglobin extracted from red meat was explored on the intestinal barrier function of the mice, and its potential mechanism was elucidated through cell culture experiments. Exclusively high-dose myoglobin (3.39%, equivalent to 450 g red meat per day for human) resulted in marked intestinal permeability with increased levels of serum endotoxin, diamine oxidase, and d-lactate but reduced the mRNA levels of tight junction proteins and mucin 2 in the duodenal and colonic tissues. The diet also increased free iron and heme levels in the duodenal and colonic tissues, leading to higher level of oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Metabolomic analysis of colonic contents showed that exclusively high-dose myoglobin altered the relative content of indole and its derivatives, phenolic compounds, and 5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan by regulating tryptophan metabolism and kynurenine cycle and destroying intestinal homeostasis. The very high myoglobin hydrolysate induced oxidative stress and apoptosis more seriously in HT29 cells than in INT407 cells, which could be the main reason for more severe colon injury. Nevertheless, normal low-dose intake (0.38% myoglobin, equivalent to 50 g per day for human) did not show the above-mentioned harmful effects. The findings provided a risk assessment for the dosage of red meat intake and new insights into the relationship between red meat intake and intestinal health.

Milk, as a dietary supplement, is crucial for maintaining health and potentially preventing disease throughout life. Both traditional Chinese medicine and modern nutritional science have revealed that milk from different mammals can benefit humans, exhibiting distinct medicinal functions. It can be inferred that milk contains not only multiple nutrients but also an abundance of bioactive components that have health benefits for milk consumers. However, limited studies have focused on the differences in bioactive metabolites in milk derived from various ruminants and their distinct medical functions. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the diversity of microbial metabolites and their associated health benefits, which are primarily shaped by the rumen-mammary gland axis. Our findings reveal the pivotal role played by microbial metabolites in facilitating the microbiome's influence on human physiology. Finally, we conclude that ruminant milk may offer a path to harness these metabolites’ therapeutic benefits. To increase these metabolites in milk, there is need to design dietary supplements for dairy ruminants, which could enhance milk's medicinal value and aroma, revolutionizing ruminant husbandry.