Food & Function最新文献

Dietary acid load (DAL) may be a risk factor for chronic diseases, but evidence of its potential effects on frailty in older adults with lung cancer is lacking. This cross-sectional study explored the association between DAL and frailty in older adults with lung cancer. Frailty status was assessed using the Fried frailty criteria. Dietary intake was assessed in 262 patients with a 3-day, 24 h dietary recall, followed by the DAL assessment with both the potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP) scores. Among all participants, 104 (39.7%) patients were classified as frail. Compared with the non-frail patients, the frail patients had significantly lower intakes of protein, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium and higher NEAP scores (all P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that after fully adjusting for covariates, high NEAP scores were associated with an increased risk of frailty (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01–1.05, P = 0.002), whereas a high protein intake was associated with a reduced risk (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.95–0.99, P = 0.013). Restricted cubic spline analysis showed a significant inverse nonlinear association between potassium intake and frailty (P = 0.017), with the frailty risk decreasing at intake levels of 1500–2000 mg d⁻¹ and increasing markedly below 669.2 mg d⁻¹. No association was found between PRAL and frailty after adjustment (P > 0.05). Overall, high NEAP scores and low intakes of protein and potassium were significantly associated with increased risk of frailty among older adults with lung cancer, supporting the potential role of diet in frailty intervention.

Docynia delavayi (Franch.) Schneid is rich in polyphenols; however, its functions remain unclear. In this study, we identified and characterized the key constituents of D. delavayi fruit polyphenols (DDP), validated their anti-inflammatory effects, and provided insights into their underlying mechanisms of action. UPLC–MS/MS was used to quantify the major phenolic compounds in DDP, including glycitin, procyanidin B2, vitexin, myricitrin, astilbin, chlorogenic acid, phlorizin, (−)-epicatechin, naringenin-7-O-glucoside, taxifolin-7-O-rhamnoside, rhoifolin, methylnissolin-3-O-glucoside, and scutellarein. In the dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis mouse model, DDP significantly improved colon length and the disease activity index. It also reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Metagenomic analysis revealed that DDP increased gut microbiota diversity, particularly enriching species capable of producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as Lawsonibacter and Ruminiclostridium. Metabolomic data further demonstrated the upregulation of SCFA-associated pathways, such as glycolysis and pyruvate metabolism, with elevated colonic acetate, propionate, and butyrate levels corroborating these findings. Multi-omics analysis linked SCFAs to reduced inflammation. Collectively, these findings suggest that SCFAs play a pivotal role in the anti-inflammatory effects of DDP by modulating the gut microbiota to enhance SCFA biosynthesis. These findings demonstrate that SCFAs serve as critical mediators of the anti-inflammatory properties of DDP, highlighting their considerable potential as natural therapeutic agents for intestinal inflammation.

Psyllium husk, a dietary fibre derived from Plantago ovata seeds, is widely used in food systems for its gelling ability, water absorption, and texturizing properties. Due to its varying solubility, the fibre can be extracted into fractions with different flow properties. However, limited knowledge exists on how its fractions can be leveraged for food enhancement. Therefore, we isolated two psyllium fractions (F1 and F2) and fabricated starch-fibre gels using starches with varying amylose content (5.9, 37.9, and 63.1% amylose). To fully understand mechanisms between the fractions and starches, we applied three temperature treatments (95, 120 and 140 °C) by utilising high temperature rapid visco analysis (HT-RVA), resulting in 27 starch and starch-fibre gels. F2 increased peak viscosity in all starches, and it significantly changed the profile of high amylose corn starch, while F1 had less effect on the pasting. Texture properties of the gels were mostly influenced by temperature treatments, but amylose leaching and starch hydrolysis by α-amylase were significantly changed by fibre addition. F1 caused an increase of the extent of starch hydrolysis, but F2 reduced it. F1 increased leached amylose, particularly in high amylose corn starch. SEM images have shown changes in the gel microstructure depending on fibre addition and temperature, potentially related to phase separation and fibre impact on ice formation. This work highlights that fibre fractions from the same source have contrasting effects on functional and health-related properties of starch-based food systems, which may be highly valuable for developing healthier food products.

Aims: Left atrial (LA) enlargement marks impaired cardiac filling and predicts future cardiovascular events. Dietary flavanols have been shown to reduce cardiovascular mortality, despite uncertain underlying mechanisms. In this study, we hypothesized that flavanol intake reduces LA volume in older individuals without cardiovascular diseases. Methods: In a substudy of the randomized, double-blinded Healthy Aging Through Dietary Intervention trial (NCT 05782309), we investigated the effects of cocoa flavanols on cardiac volumetry and diastolic function in healthy older individuals. LA and left-ventricular (LV) volumes as well as strain rates were measured by high-resolution cardiac magnetic resonance imaging before and after flavanol intake. Results: Sixty-three participants (59% male) aged ≥ 55 years received either 500 mg cocoa flavanols (containing 80 mg (–)-epicatechin) originating from cocoa extract (n = 30) or a control (n = 33) twice daily for 30 days. Flavanol intake counteracted subclinical cardiac dysfunction, evidenced by a 12.6 ± 3.5% reduction in maximal LA volume (p = 0.0063) and LA volume index (p = 0.0067) and ∼4.4 ± 1.9% reduction in LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) (p = 0.049) and LVEDV index (p = 0.041). Flavanol intake did not influence strain, strain rate, and systolic function parameters, while the systolic blood pressure decreased by 7 mmHg [∼4.7 ± 1.9% (p = 0.04)]. Blood pressure dynamics, gender or age of participants in the intervention group were not associated with LA volumetric changes. Conclusion: We provide evidence that cocoa flavanol intake mitigates early changes of diastolic dysfunction by reversing left atrial and left ventricular remodeling, thus providing novel insights into the mechanisms behind the beneficial cardiovascular effect of flavanol intake. The clinical trial registry number is NCT 05782309 (https://clinicaltrials.gov).

Background: By using the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) score—a novel dietary pattern that includes exclusively protective foods—we investigated the relationship between PURE score and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and compared its performance with some conventional dietary patterns, including the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Alternate Mediterranean diet (aMed), Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010), and healthful Plant-Based Diet Index (hPDI). Methods: 179 569 participants without CKD at the baseline from the UK Biobank were included. Dietary information was collected through 24-hour dietary questionnaires. The PURE score was calculated based on six foods (fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, fish, and dairy), ranging from 6 to 30. The study outcome was incident CKD. Results: During a median follow-up of 12.1 years, 4822 participants developed CKD. The PURE score was inversely associated with incident CKD (per 1 quintile increment: HR, 0.92; 95%CI, 0.90–0.94). Compared with participants with PURE score <14 (unhealthy PURE score), those with PURE score ≥14 (healthy PURE score) had a significantly 19% (95%CI, 13%–23%) lower risk of CKD. Genetic risk of CKD, DASH, aMed, AHEI-2010, and hPDI did not significantly modify the association between PURE score and incident CKD (all P for interactions >0.05). None of the conventional dietary patterns (per 1 quintile increment: HRs ranging from 0.91 to 0.96) was significantly superior to PURE score in reducing the risk of CKD. Conclusions: Adherence to a high PURE score was associated with a lower risk of CKD, suggesting the importance of protective foods in CKD prevention.

Licochalcone A (LicA) is a flavonoid compound extracted from licorice. LicA has the function of regulating blood sugar and has been proven to be related to the intestinal flora, but its mechanism remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of LicA on improving insulin resistance and glycolipid metabolism in type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) mice. A T2DM model was established using db/db mice. We found that LicA could effectively reduce insulin resistance and fat deposition in T2DM mice, alleviate liver inflammation, improve the integrity of the intestinal barrier, and reduce endotoxins in the circulation. Further studies on 16S rRNA have shown that LicA regulates the composition of the intestinal flora in T2DM mice and reduces the abundance of the genus p-75-a5. The combined analysis of liver metabolomics and liver proteomics indicated that LicA altered the intestinal microbiota metabolite hypotaurine through p-75-a5, and hypotaurine played a bridging role between p-75-a5 and glycolipid metabolism in T2DM. Through multi-omics joint analysis and WB experimental verification, the results showed that LicA activates the PPAR signaling pathway to improve glucose lipid metabolism disorders in T2DM. More importantly, after treating db/db mice with antibiotics, the beneficial effects of LicA were blocked, indicating that the gut microbiota plays a key role in LicA's improvement of glucose and lipid metabolism in T2DM. In conclusion, this study revealed a new mechanism by which LicA improves T2DM glucose and lipid metabolism disorder, and the potential improvement of LicA's glucose and lipid metabolism in T2DM may be related to the change of p-75-a5 targeting hypotaurine.

55% of Brazilians are overweight, driving chronic diseases through inflammation, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and endothelial dysfunction—key factors in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases—highlighting the need for preventive strategies. Brazil's rich biodiversity includes Passiflora tenuifila (PS), a native fruit rich in bioactive compounds that may help prevent cardiometabolic diseases. This study investigated its effects on insulin resistance, endothelial function, inflammation, and nutrigenomics in overweight individuals. In a randomized, controlled, crossover study, 16 participants consumed either PS powder or a fiber-matched control for two weeks, with a one-month washout. Blood samples were analyzed for biochemical and transcriptomic changes at the baseline and post-interventions. PS significantly reduced aspartate aminotransferase, IL-6, and sICAM-1, and increased nitrite. HDL levels negatively correlated with insulin, HOMA-IR, and triglycerides. Transcriptomic analysis revealed modulation of 374 genes (protein-coding and non-coding genes), including ABCA1, a key cholesterol efflux regulator. Pathways related to lipid metabolism, inflammation, endothelial function, and insulin signaling were enriched, potentially modulated by PPAR-α and NF-κB transcription factors. These findings suggest that PS may improve endothelial function, reduce inflammation, and enhance lipid and glucose metabolism through complex nutrigenomic modifications, supporting its potential in preventing cardiometabolic disorders. This clinical trial was registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) at https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-8cn9qqg.

Nowadays, increasing research attention is being devoted to edible mushrooms, both for their use as nutraceutical foods and as an alternative source of income for rural communities. On the other hand, several edible mushrooms contain enzymes that can damage ribosomes, thereby inhibiting protein synthesis [e.g., ribotoxin-like proteins (RL-Ps) and ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs)]. These enzymes can have toxic effects, putting human health at risk. In this context, we report the characterization of a new toxin, named indicitin, isolated from the fruiting bodies of the edible mushroom Calocybe indica. This well-known tropical species is renowned for its delicate flavour and medicinal properties. This enzyme (∼28 kDa) is a specific ribonuclease able to inhibit protein synthesis in vitro (IC₅₀ = 1.05 × 10⁻⁶ M) by selectively cleaving the α-sarcin–ricin loop of 28S rRNA in animal ribosomes. In addition, the N-terminal amino acid sequence and structural features highlight that indicitin belongs to the thaumatin-like protein family. Indicitin exhibits a dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic activity against Raji cells, a human B lymphoblastoid cell line, triggering mainly the apoptotic pathway, as evaluated through annexin V/propidium iodide staining. However, no effects were observed on the viability of indicitin-treated HeLa, NB100 and Caco-2 cells. Moreover, indicitin does not affect the growth of the gut microbiota, as it is unable to damage fungal and prokaryotic ribosomes. Overall, these findings confirm that indicitin could represent a novel biotechnological tool that has low toxicity toward several cell types and is non-harmful to the gut microbiota.

Objective: The metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a biomarker influenced by diet and linked to atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Choline is a crucial nutrient involved in maintaining cell structure, promoting liver health, and neurotransmission. However, human evidence is limited whether cocoa extract (CE) changes TMAO and choline levels over time. The COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) is a randomized, placebo-controlled, 2 × 2 factorial trial testing a CE supplement (containing 500 mg d⁻¹ flavanols) and a daily multivitamin for chronic disease prevention in 21 442 older adults. We conducted a pilot study of the impact of CE on 1 year changes in TMAO and choline in COSMOS participants to facilitate sample size calculations for larger analyses of this trial in the future. In a pilot intention to treat analyses, linear mixed effect models were used to explore serum TMAO and choline trajectories in relation to CE assignment, adjusting for age, sex, and the other randomization arm. Methods: We randomly selected 40 COSMOS participants with blood samples at baseline and year 1. TMAO and choline were measured in plasma samples by liquid chromatography with stable isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry. We excluded 3 of 40 participants due to extreme TMAO values ≥32.9 μM. Results: The mean age at baseline was 77 ± (5.5) years, and 18 (48.7%) were female. Randomization successfully distributed baseline demographic, clinical, behavioral, and dietary characteristics by treatment group. Among the 37 COSMOS participants, those assigned to take a CE supplement, as compared to placebo, had similar TMAO and choline levels at baseline but showed trends toward lower levels of TMAO (−0.60 [95% CI, (−3.76, 2.55)]) at 1 year. However, the between-group differences in the 1 year changes in TMAO (CE minus placebo) were not statistically significant (−1.16 [95% CI, (−5.81, 3.50)]; P = 0.62). In contrast, the group assigned CE showed trends toward higher levels of choline (0.84 (−1.57, 3.25)) at year 1, but the between-group differences in the 1 year changes in choline were again not statistically significant (2.23 [95% CI, (−1.31, 5.78)]; P = 0.21). Based on this pilot study, an expanded analysis of 1500 COSMOS participants would have 84% power to detect a 1.5 μM difference in TMAO levels comparing cocoa extract versus placebo. Conclusions: We measured TMAO and choline from stored blood samples in this pilot study from the COSMOS trial. Although daily CE supplementation was not associated with statistically significant 1 year changes in TMAO or choline levels, our sample size was limited. Larger studies are needed to understand whether TMAO and/or choline contribute to the reduction in CVD death observed with CE supplementation.

Seaweed polysaccharides are among the most important marine plant resources currently being developed, and their immunomodulatory activity has received widespread attention. However, there is still a paucity of the latest summary of the in-depth immune mechanisms of these seaweed polysaccharides. Therefore, in this review, seaweed polysaccharides that have been proven to have immunomodulatory properties are reported. A detailed summary of the three main aspects of the immune mechanism is provided, namely, regulating the immune system to fight against pathogens, clearing tumor cells in the body, and inhibiting the damage caused to the immune system by excessive inflammatory factors. This comprehensive analysis provides a scientific framework for the development of seaweed polysaccharides as immune modulators and their application in food and cosmetics.