Food & Function最新文献

We investigated whether low (L) or high (H) amounts of tricaprylin (TC) or triolein (TO) modulate fat-soluble vitamin bioavailability. Mice received 5 mg kg^-1 vitamins with either 117 or 933 mg kg^-1 of TC or TO. The vitamin levels were monitored in the plasma (0-6 h) and intestine (6 h). The plasma vitamin A response was up to 87.6 ± 3.2% higher (p < 0.0001) with LTC compared to HTC or HTO. The vitamin D response remained unaffected. The plasma vitamin E and K responses were both favored by HTO (up to +283.9 ± 24.0%, p < 0.0001 and +163.8 ± 34.7%, p = 0.033, respectively). The intestinal vitamin A, E and K concentrations reflected the modulations observed in the plasma, while the intestinal vitamin D concentration was significantly higher with HTC compared to LTC (796.9 ± 80.8 vs. 457.1 ± 46.3 pmol g^-1, p = 0.0340). Overall, the type and amount of triglycerides influence the bioavailability of vitamins A, E and K but not that of vitamin D. These results could help in formulating fortified foods.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a serious public health concern worldwide. This study evaluated the preventive effects of fucoidan extracted from sea cucumber cooking liquid (Fuc-SC) against gastritis induced by Helicobacter pylori SS1 (Hp SS1) infection. High-dose (150 mg kg^-1) Fuc-SC significantly reduced levels of Hp SS1 immunoglobulin G (Hp-IgG) and cytotoxin-related gene A immunoglobulin G (CagA-IgG), while inhibiting urease activity, leading to an approximately 18% reduction in Hp SS1 colonization in the gastric mucosa. Fuc-SC also modulated oxidative stress more effectively than Fuc-LJ, suppressing nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and reactive oxygen species (ROS), likely due to its smaller molecular weight and higher sulfate content. Regarding inflammatory regulation, Fuc-SC dose-dependently down-regulated interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, T helper 17 (Th17) cells, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), while up-regulating IL-10. These effects further modulated the expression of the inflammatory protein S100A8 and E-cadherin in the gastric mucosa, alleviating gastric inflammation. Moreover, 16S rRNA and metabolomics analyses revealed that Fuc-SC mitigates inflammatory responses by inhibiting pathogenic bacteria such as Dubosiella and Monoglobus, while promoting probiotics like Lactobacillus and Akkermansia, thereby enhancing the biosynthesis of short-chain fatty acids and beneficial metabolites, including naringenin, afzelechin, and pinocembrin. In summary, Fuc-SC exerts multifaceted protective effects on the gastric mucosa, highlighting its potential as a preventive strategy for H. pylori-associated gastritis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory bowel disease with an increasing global burden. Although various terpenoids have demonstrated significant efficacy against UC, the therapeutic mechanism of bornyl acetate (BA), a monocyclic diterpene derived from pine needle essential oil (PNEO), remains unclear. This study systematically investigated the anti-inflammatory effects and microbiota-modulating mechanisms of PNEO and BA by using an integrated approach that combined in vitro and in vivo models with 16S rRNA sequencing. These results showed that while PNEO significantly inhibited pro-inflammatory mediators like NO and TNF-α, its therapeutic efficacy against UC was modest. In contrast, BA exerted potent anti-inflammatory effects by downregulating the transcriptional activity of p65 in the NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, BA enhanced the transcription and expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, claudin-1, and occludin), thereby restoring intestinal barrier integrity in mice with UC. Moreover, BA treatment effectively suppressed the abnormal expansion of opportunistic pathogens (Erysipelotrichaceae, Saccharimonadaceae, Escherichia-Shigella, Turicibacter, Ruminococcus and Candidatus Saccharimonas) while significantly promoting the proliferation of the potential probiotic Akkermansia. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that the abundance of Akkermansia was negatively correlated with p65 transcriptional activity in the NF-κB pathway but positively correlated with anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and the mRNA levels of barrier proteins (ZO-1 and occludin). In conclusion, these findings indicated that BA alleviates UC through a synergistic mechanism encompassing NF-κB pathway inhibition, microbiota homeostasis restoration and intestinal barrier repair. This discovery offers a theoretical basis for novel functional foods leveraging terpenoids to restore gut microecological balance.

Chemobrain is a major debilitating effect on cancer patients receiving oxaliplatin for chemotherapy. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of the ethanol extract of the edible aerial parts of Rosmarinus officinalis against chemobrain and neuroinflammation in rats. The metabolic profiling of the ethanol extract of the Rosmarinus officinalis L. aerial parts was performed by LC-qTOF-MS/MS, and 16 compounds belonging to phenolic diterpenes, triterpenes and monoterpenes were revealed. The prepared Rosmarinus officinalis L. nanoemulsion revealed optimal polydispersity, nanoscale particle size, and a negatively charged surface in both freshly prepared and after storage states. Cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation were induced in rats using oxaliplatin. Male rats were allocated into five groups: group 1 was the vehicle reference group and groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 received oxaliplatin (4 mg kg^-1, i.p.) twice a week for four weeks. Groups 3 and 4 received a daily oral dose of Rosmarinus officinalis at 50 and 100 mg kg^-1, respectively, for four successive weeks. Group 5 received a daily intranasal dose of Rosmarinus officinalis nanoemulsion of 1 mg kg^-1. Behavioral, histological and biochemical parameters were determined to evaluate the cognitive function in rats. Rosmarinus officinalis extracts and the administered nanoemulsion halted the destruction of hippocampal normal structure and memory decline, triggered by the oxaliplatin injection. They hindered the effects of oxaliplatin on antioxidant markers, such as catalase and reduced glutathione. Rosmarinus officinalis treatment activated Wnt/β-catenin axis and ameliorated neuroinflammation and apoptotic markers, such as caspase-3 and p53, showing no effect on the anticancer activity of oxaliplatin. This highlighted the promising neuroprotective potential of Rosmarinus officinalis in chemofog, which further consolidated its folk medicinal popularity.

Correction for 'Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) fortified functional foods ameliorate iron and protein malnutrition by improving growth and modulating oxidative stress and gut microbiota in rats' by Raman Kumar et al., Food Funct., 2023, 14, 1160-1178, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2FO02226E.

Correction for 'Bifidobacterium bifidum CCFM1359 alleviates intestinal motility disorders through the BDNF-TrkB pathway' by Linlin Wang et al., Food Funct., 2025, 16, 437-451, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4FO03710C.

Probiotics have shown potential for alleviating circadian disruption, but efficient screening models for identifying effective strains are lacking, and the mechanisms by which probiotics modulate circadian disruption and related diseases require further investigation. In this research, we developed an in vitro screening model targeting clock gene expression and identified Bifidobacterium longum CCFM1238 as an effective strain for alleviating circadian disruption in sleep-deprived mice. B. longum CCFM1238 exhibited a rhythm-regulating effect similar to melatonin in vitro and alleviated both intestinal and hypothalamic clock gene disruption (Bmal1, Clock, Per3, Cry1 and Rev-erbα) in sleep deprivation-induced circadian disruption mice. Further studies showed that B. longum CCFM1238 reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in colonic tissue, increased colonic goblet cell numbers, and repaired sleep deprivation-induced intestinal inflammation. In cognitive ability tests, B. longum CCFM1238 ameliorated spatial recognition and memory deficits induced by circadian disruption and attenuated extensive microglial activation in the hippocampal region. Additionally, B. longum CCFM1238 increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria (Akkermansia, Alistipes, and Bifidobacterium) and modulated levels of key metabolites (sphingosine, adenosine, guanosine, N,N-dimethylglycine, and inosine) strongly associated with key microbiota. These findings suggest that B. longum CCFM1238 may target clock gene expression to alleviate circadian disruption and modulate the gut microbiota to provide neuroprotection and gut barrier protection against circadian disruption.

Fermented barley can be used as a functional ingredient of staple foods. In the present study, the effect of fermented barley bran addition on extruded rice was investigated in terms of digestive properties, gastrointestinal phenol release and antioxidant activities. Different nutrient compositions were observed between fermented barley extruded rice (FBER) and barley extruded rice (BER). After fermented barley bran addition, the resistant starch proportion increased to 17.49% and the glycemic index decreased to 68.82 in FBER. The release of phenols was more significant in FBER than in BER during digestion and colonic fermentation, leading to enhanced in vitro antioxidant activities. Among the phenolic compounds, ferulic acid exhibited different variation tendencies when comparing BER with FBER during colonic fermentation. According to the results of microbiota analysis, higher abundances of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were observed in FBER-fermented faecal samples. Correlation network analysis further revealed the potential role of Megasphaera and Bifidobacterium in the biotransformation of specific phenols.

Sitting time is high in older adults and has been shown to temporarily impair endothelial function and blood pressure (BP). Flavanols, plant-derived compounds, acutely enhance endothelial function and reduce BP in older adults. The aim of this study was to investigate whether acute ingestion of cocoa flavanols can improve peripheral endothelial function and BP during prolonged sitting in healthy older adults. In a randomised, double-blinded, within-subject, cross-over, placebo-controlled human study, 20 apparently healthy, older adults (age, 72.4 ± 5.0 years; 7 males, 13 females) consumed a high-flavanol (695 mg) and a low-flavanol (5.6 mg) cocoa beverage immediately before a 2-hour sitting bout. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the superficial femoral (SFA; primary outcome) and brachial (BA) arteries, and BP, were assessed before and after sitting. Microvasculature haemodynamics were assessed in the gastrocnemius before, during, and after sitting. Sitting reduced both SFA FMD (Δ = -0.7%; p = 0.005) and BA FMD (Δ = -0.7%; p = 0.016) in the low-flavanol condition. The high-flavanol intervention prevented the decline in both SFA and BA FMD following sitting, with FMD measures remaining similar to pre-sitting (p > 0.3). Sitting increased both systolic (Δ = 6.1 mm Hg, p = 0.001) and diastolic BP (Δ = 2.6 mm Hg, p = 0.001), with no benefit from flavanol intake. Sitting increased muscle oxygenation resting levels (p < 0.001) and haemoglobin content (p < 0.001), and decreased muscle oxygen consumption during SFA occlusion (p < 0.001). Flavanols had no effect on the muscle microvasculature. These findings indicate that flavanol-rich foods may be efficacious nutritional strategies to counteract sitting-induced endothelial impairments during prolonged sitting in older adults, but do not alleviate sitting-induced increases in BP.

Although often regarded as compromising the fruit's sensory quality, pear peel is an edible component that enhances the nutritional and functional value of pears within a whole food diet. Rich in diverse polyphenols with demonstrated bioactivity, the pear peel represents a valuable dietary source of health-promoting compounds; however, its role in ulcerative colitis (UC) remains underexplored. In this study, the protective effect of pear peel polyphenols (PPP) against UC was investigated using both in vitro and in vivo models. PPP markedly suppressed proinflammatory cytokine and enzyme expressions in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. In dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced colitis mice, PPP significantly mitigated UC symptoms, suppressed serum inflammatory cytokine production, and ameliorated histological damage in colon tissues. Moreover, PPP modulated the gut microbiota by reshaping the microbial diversity, enriching beneficial taxa such as Akkermansia, and suppressing proinflammatory taxa including Bacteroides, Enterobacteriaceae, and Parabacteroides. Notably, proteomic analysis further demonstrated that PPP modulated mucosal immunity, particularly by suppressing the levels of immunoglobulin-related molecules (IgM, IgD, and IgA) and attenuating antigen presentation pathways involving major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules and cluster of differentiation (Cd40) signaling. Altogether, these findings suggest that PPP exerts a protective effect against colitis through the coordinated regulation of gut microbiota and mucosal immunity, highlighting its potential as a functional food ingredient for intestinal health.