Food & Function最新文献

Circadian rhythms in gut microbiota composition are crucial for metabolic function and disease progression, yet the diurnal oscillation patterns of gut microbiota in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and their role in disease progression remain unknown. Here, we investigated gut bacterial dynamics in Apoe^-/- mice over 24 hours and elucidated dynamic changes in fecal microbiota composition and function among C57BL/6 and Apoe^-/- mice with standard chow diet or high-fat/high-cholesterol diet under ad libitum conditions. Compared with C57BL/6 mice, Apoe^-/- mice exhibited significant differences in fecal microbial composition. Rhythmicity analysis revealed that the temporal dynamics of fecal microbiota composition and function in Apoe^-/- mice differed significantly from those in C57BL/6 mice, particularly in B. coccoides-dominated oscillatory modules. Functional annotation showed that rhythmic B. coccoides strains inhibited ASCVD progression by enhancing intestinal and endothelial barrier functions. These findings demonstrate that diurnal oscillations in gut microbiota are closely associated with ASCVD progression and provide new insights for microbiota-targeted precision therapies.

Food-derived compounds represent a promising reservoir for developing novel therapeutic agents against pathogenic infections such as Salmonella Typhimurium. In this study, we integrated computational biology with experimental validation to identify and characterize quorum sensing interference molecules (QSIMs) from food-derived compounds. Through structure-based virtual screening of more than 8000 compounds in the FooDB database, we identified the potential candidates (such as skatole, 2-aminoquinoline, tricarballylic acid, and L-3-phenyllactic acid) demonstrating high affinity binding to the LsrB receptor, as validated by surface plasmon resonance analysis. We further evaluated the performances of the aforementioned QSIMs on strain growth, biofilm formation, and motility. Furthermore, we have also deciphered the corresponding mechanisms and verified the effectiveness of the obtained QSIMs. Finally, we discussed the opportunities and challenges in the development of food-derived QSIMs for weakening virulence, reducing infection and relieving drug resistance of some other pathogens.

Regular exercise is known to have positive effects on a variety of health outcomes, including the prevention of obesity and cognitive decline. Several recent reports have suggested that combining exercise with dietary factors such as flavonoids can amplify health functions. While the addition of dietary factors synergistically or additively enhances the beneficial effects of exercise, the addition of exercise may also reduce the amount of dietary factors needed to obtain their beneficial effects. This review describes (1) the exercise-induced improvement of health functions focusing on cognitive function, (2) several studies that investigated the effects that combining flavonoids with exercise has on obesity and cognitive function, and (3) the synergistic effect of inducing beige adipocyte formation to potentially explain the mechanism of the preventive effects of combining dietary factors and exercise on obesity, including new findings on lactate obtained through these studies. Finally, we summarize the following challenges and issues in research on developing the combination of dietary factors and exercise: clarifying the appropriate types and intensities of exercise and appropriate intake of dietary factors for obtaining the optimal combined effect, accumulating results of human interventional studies, and examining the benefits of this combination in improving the memory and learning ability of young adults and children. As scientists studying functional foods, we should focus more on exercise-replacement and exercise-complementing dietary factors in our research. This journal will play an important role in elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the combined effects of dietary factors and exercise.

This study investigated the effects of dietary fermented blueberry leaf tea on sleep quality through a 3-week double-blind randomized controlled trial. Fifty healthy individuals (BMI: 22.3 ± 0.6 kg m^-2), aged 20-69 years, were randomly assigned to either an active group consuming the fermented blueberry leaf tea or a placebo group. They consumed 200 mL of active tea (1.8 mg hyperoside/serving) or placebo tea three times daily. Sleep quality was assessed using both objective and subjective measures via actigraphy and the Oguri-Shirakawa-Azumi Sleep Inventory MA (OSA-MA) version questionnaire, respectively. We observed significantly higher sleep efficiency (active: from 82.2 ± 1.4% to 81.2 ± 1.6%, placebo: from 83.8 ± 1.6% to 80.4 ± 1.8%) and lower wake after sleep onset (WASO) (active: from 68.9 ± 6.6 min to 70.5 ± 6.8 min, placebo: from 61.9 ± 6.9 min to 77.9 ± 8.6 min) in the active group compared to the placebo group. Specifically, the active group exhibited higher sleep efficiency after 3 weeks and reduced WASO after 2 weeks of active tea consumption. Subjective evaluations indicated significant improvements in sleep onset and maintenance as early as one week, correlating with the objective sleep efficiency measures. On the other hand, no significant differences were observed in other parameters of actigraphy or OSA-MA. These findings suggest that hyperoside, a quercetin glycoside found in blueberry leaves, may positively influence sleep quality by increasing serotonin and melatonin levels, thereby enhancing non-rapid eye movement sleep. Regular consumption of dietary fermented blueberry leaf tea may improve daily sleep quality, leading to a better overall quality of life.

The ketogenic diet (KD) has been proposed as a potential treatment for depression. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate further the effects of KD on chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression in mice and investigate the underlying mechanisms. The results demonstrated that KD intervention significantly alleviated CUMS-induced depression-like behaviors, as evidenced by a decrease in immobility time in the forced swimming test and tail suspension test, an increase in distance traveled in the open field test, and a greater preference for sucrose in the sucrose preference test. KD alleviated neuroinflammation by reducing the levels of glial cell activation markers Iba-1 and GFAP, inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors IL-1β, TNF-α, and COX-2, and suppressing the overactivation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, KD increased the number of DCX-, BrdU-, and PSD95-positive cells in the hippocampus and enhanced the BDNF/TrkB/CREB and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways, thereby promoting hippocampal neurogenesis. These findings suggested that KD alleviated CUMS-induced depression-like behaviors in mice by reducing neuroinflammation, enhancing neurotrophic signaling, and promoting hippocampal neurogenesis, thereby providing a mechanistic basis for its potential as a novel dietary antidepressant therapy.

Alcoholic liver injury is primarily caused by long-term excessive alcohol consumption and has become a global public health concern. It is well known that selenium (Se) has excellent beneficial effects in regulating oxidative stress and protecting liver function. However, the effects of different species of Se compounds on alcohol-induced liver injury and their underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Hence, this study investigated the intervention of three different species of Se compounds-Se-enriched Cardamine violifolia peptides (CV), Se-enriched soybean peptides (SO), and sodium selenite (SS)-in an alcohol-induced liver injury mice model. The results of serum biochemical indices and hepatic oxidative stress indexes showed that although both Se-enriched peptides and SS exhibited protective effects against alcohol-induced liver injury, Se-enriched peptides exerted a better effect than SS. Liver metabolomics studies revealed that 30, 15, and 30 metabolites with significant differences were identified in the comparisons of CV vs. model group (MC), SO vs. MC, and SS vs. MC groups, respectively. Common differential metabolites in the three comparison groups were dopamine glucuronide, docosahexaenoic acid, glycerophosphocholine, galactinol and sclareol. KEGG analysis indicated that the differential metabolites between the SS vs. MC groups were enriched in the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway. The significant metabolic pathways enriched in the SO vs. MC groups were α-linolenic acid metabolism, citric acid cycle, and glucagon signaling pathway. In the CV vs. MC groups, metabolic pathways related to insulin secretion, carbohydrate digestion and absorption, inositol phosphate metabolism, and C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway were also identified. In addition, the intervention of Se-enriched peptides regulated alcohol-induced dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and upgraded the levels of short-chain fatty acids. In the CV group, differential taxa included unidentified_Bacteria, unidentified_Bacteria family and unidentified_Bacteria genus. The dominant species in the SO group included the Atopobiaceae and Turicibiacter. In conclusion, these findings revealed the important role of the gut-liver axis in the protective effects of Se-containing compounds against alcoholic liver injury. Se-enriched peptides, particularly those from CV with selenocystine as the main Se specie, hold great promise as a novel functional food ingredient for the prevention of alcoholic liver injury.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a significant infectious disease with limited treatment options. Pterostilbene, an active compound found in blueberries, is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated the effects of pterostilbene on intestinal barrier damage and secondary liver oxidative stress induced by CDI in mice. Pathological changes in the colon and liver, the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines and antioxidants, and the expression of related genes were evaluated. Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing and targeted metabolomics analyses of the gut microbiota and bile acids were conducted. Pterostilbene reduced the abundance of harmful bacteria such as Enterococcus, while increasing beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus, thereby reshaping the gut microbiota and bile acid profile and reducing the accumulation of T-βMCA. This process activated intestinal FXR signaling, which alleviated colonic inflammation and reduced intestinal permeability. The reduction in intestinal permeability prevented the translocation of bacteria and bacterial toxins into the liver via the portal vein, thereby reducing liver inflammation and oxidative stress. Pterostilbene presented a promising strategy for maintaining intestinal health through the regulation of dysbiosis and bile acid disturbances caused by CDI. When integrated into the food system, pterostilbene has the potential to improve intestinal health, mitigate the risk of CDI associated with contaminated agricultural products, and enhance public health and food safety. Additionally, we identified that regulating the intestinal bile acid profile and the FXR receptor could serve as potential therapeutic targets for CDI, thereby facilitating the development of novel treatment options and dietary strategies.

This study evaluated the impact of defatted rice bran (DRB) particle sizes (103.67-6.04 μm) on the gel properties and flavor of silver carp surimi gels. Decreasing DRB particle size significantly enhanced gel strength and water holding capacity (WHC). Specifically, DRB particles sized 12.83 and 6.04 μm increased the breaking force by 33.6% and 35.2%, respectively; deformation by 21.8% and 22.7%; and WHC by 12.38% and 13.20%. During two-stage heating, fine DRB induced ordered protein aggregation and facilitated the conformational transition from α-helix and random coil to β-sheet. DRB particles influenced the gel network structure mainly through filling and their interaction with proteins. Large particles impeded the orderly cross-linking of proteins to the detriment of the orderliness of the gel network, but fine particles brought a significant reduction of this negative effect. The addition of fine DRB facilitated the formation of a denser and more homogeneous gel network, transforming free water into immobile water. The dense gel structure also suppressed the release of fishy odor compounds, and the aroma of DRB masked the fishy smell. These findings suggest that micronized DRB improves surimi gel properties and flavor, offering new possibilities for its application in food processing.

This study delves into the immunoreactivity of lactic acid bacterium (LAB)-fermented soy protein isolates (FSPIs), with various structural features, during gastrointestinal digestion and absorption. Additionally, the structural breakdown and epitope degradation of major allergens were investigated for their gastrointestinal behavior. Allergenicity and IgE-binding capacity assays revealed that at the initial and middle stages of digestion, FSPI-5.0/4.0 exhibited greater ability to reduce immunoreactivity than FSPI-7.0/6.0 and reduced immunoreactivity by 1.9%-36.6%. Caco-2 model transport studies further suggested that FSPI-5.0/4.0 T-5 and T-30 samples decreased immunoreactivity by inducing Th1-dominant differentiation. Peptidomics and bioinformatics analyses corroborated these findings, revealing that FSPI-5.0/4.0 promoted the epitope destruction of basic 7S globulin, β-conglycinin, P34, and glycinin and was dominated by secondary structures consisting of α-helices and β-sheets. Therefore, structural control through LAB fermentation represents a promising strategy for regulating the degradation of allergen epitopes.

Ellagic acid (EA) exhibits protective effects on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the ability to produce urolithins and the health benefits associated with EA consumption differ considerably among individuals. Therefore, the different effects of EA on high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFFD)-induced NAFLD, considering variability in urolithin-producing ability, were explored. Our results showed that EA could effectively reduce body weight, lipid accumulation and insulin resistance, and improve oxidative stress and inflammation in NAFLD mice. The metabolomics analysis indicated that liver metabolism disorder induced by HFFD was obviously improved by EA mainly through the regulation of unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and amino acid metabolism. In particular, the improvement effect of EA on NAFLD in mice with high urolithin A production was better than that in their low counterparts. Moreover, EA treatment reshaped the gut microbiota imbalance caused by HFFD. Specifically, compared to the model group, the lower abundances of Faecalibaculum (by 95.11%), Ruminococcus_torques_group (by 208.14%), Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 (by 449.37%), and Ileibacterium (by 172.64%), while higher abundances of Verrucomicrobia and Akkermansia (by 425.0%) were observed in the high-UroA-producing group (p < 0.05). This study provided new insights into EA's anti-NAFLD effectiveness and suggested that the response capacity of the gut microbiota to EA greatly determined the performance of EA in alleviating the development of NAFLD.