Food & Function最新文献

Background: The incidence rate of adult-onset atopic dermatitis (AOAD) is rising. There is still limited evidence regarding the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and the risk of AOAD. Objective: This study determined the extent to which a lower level of serum 25(OH)D is associated with the risk of AOAD in two large, population-based cohorts. Methods: We included 6340 participants from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and 229 260 participants from the UK Biobank cohort. The multivariable logistic regression analyses and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression were performed to estimate odds ratios (ORs), hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of serum 25(OH)D in relation to incident AOAD. Results: In the cross-sectional analysis, individuals with 25(OH)D deficiency or insufficiency had significantly higher odds of prevalent AOAD compared to those with sufficient levels (deficiency: OR, 1.80 [95% CI, 1.01-3.02]; insufficiency: OR, 1.61 [1.00-2.59]). In the prospective UK Biobank cohort, lower 25(OH)D status at the baseline was associated with an increased risk of incident AOAD during follow-up (deficiency: HR, 1.20 [1.04-1.38]; insufficiency: HR, 1.31 [1.09-1.58]). Despite differences in study design and outcome ascertainment, both cohorts showed a linear inverse relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and AOAD risk. Conclusions: Our findings revealed that elevated levels of serum 25(OH)D were robustly associated with a decreased risk of AOAD. These results hold considerable public health implications, indicating that the serum 25(OH)D may offer a practical and efficient means of detecting high-risk individuals and informing tailored intervention strategies.

This study investigated the potential role of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus DACN152 (DACN152) in ameliorating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Using a letrozole-induced PCOS murine model, we demonstrated that DACN152 attenuated ovarian histopathological damage, restored estrous cyclicity, and normalized sex hormone levels. Furthermore, DACN152 enhanced ovarian steroidogenesis by regulating key steroidogenic genes (StAR, CYP17A1, and CYP19A1) and sex hormone receptors (Lhr and Pgr), while concurrently suppressing ovarian apoptosis through modulation of apoptotic regulators (Bax and Bcl-2). These changes were corroborated at the protein level. Additionally, DACN152 significantly restructured the gut microbiota composition in PCOS mice, marked by reduced abundances of Bacteroidota, Verrucomicrobiota, Dubosiella, and Akkermansia, alongside increased abundances of Firmicutes, Campylobacterota, Allobaculum, Ruminococcus, and Blautia. Serum metabolomic analysis revealed elevated levels of bile acids, including chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), taurocholic acid (TCA), taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA), and cholic acid (CA). Collectively, these findings provide a theoretical basis for the development of probiotic-functional foods for PCOS.

Polysaccharides derived from the mycelium of edible fungi (MEF) are structurally diverse and biologically active macromolecules, garnering extensive attention in functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and biomaterials. Despite the emerging growth in MEF polysaccharide research, the available literature focuses primarily on reviews on specific polysaccharides, necessitating an urgent need for a comprehensive summary of MEF polysaccharides to provide readers a systematic overview of current advancements in this field. This review systematically elaborates recent advances in MEF polysaccharide research, focusing on their extraction techniques, structural characterization, biological activities, and biosynthetic mechanisms. This review analyzes the effects of various extraction techniques on MEF polysaccharides and also explores the relationship between their structural characteristics and biological activities, highlighting that the complexity of these structures is crucial for determining their functional diversity. Moreover, the biosynthetic mechanism of MEF polysaccharides is discussed, revealing that regulating enzyme activity, particularly glycosyltransferases, can improve biosynthetic efficiency. Despite promising applications, challenges remain in optimizing extraction sustainability, scaling production processes, and deepening the mechanistic understanding of bioactivity. This comprehensive overview aims to strategically guide future research toward high-value applications and fundamental advances in fungal polysaccharide science.

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin commonly found in grains, is difficult to remove during processing, posing a risk of long-term low-dose exposure in both humans and animals. Meanwhile, there is a trend toward the increasing prevalence of high-fat diets (HFD) in contemporary human populations. Therefore, combined exposure to DON and HFD will exacerbate their health threats to humans and animals, especially potentially impairing male reproductive health and reducing fertility. This study aims to investigate the potential male reproductive toxicity induced by combined exposure to long-term low-dose DON and HFD, and to explore potential nutritional intervention strategies. Our findings demonstrate that combined exposure to low-dose DON and HFD leads to structural damage in the seminiferous tubules, reduced sperm count, and increased sperm malformation rates in male C57BL/6J mice, along with abnormal blood lipid parameters. Meanwhile, nutritional intervention with β-sitosterol, one of the most widely distributed and abundant phytosterols, significantly alleviated the reproductive toxicity caused by low-dose DON and HFD. Transcriptomic sequencing and molecular docking simulation results revealed that the protective mechanism of β-sitosterol against the combined toxicity is closely associated with the PPAR/Wnt signaling pathway. Our study has firstly elucidated the potential mechanism underlying male reproductive toxicity induced by low-dose DON and HFD combined exposure, as well as providing novel insights into proactive nutritional intervention strategies.

Background: Autoimmune thyroiditis (AITD) is a prevalent autoimmune disorder, and epidemiological evidence suggests that dietary iron intake is inversely associated with AITD risk. However, the functional role of dietary iron in modulating thyroid autoimmunity remains poorly understood. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary iron interventions on thyroid autoimmune responses and to explore the potential of iron supplementation as a nutritional strategy for AITD prevention. Methods: Female non-obese diabetic mice carrying the H-2^h4 haplotype (NOD.H-2^h4) mice were fed iron-deficient (ID), normal-iron (ND), or iron-supplemented (IS) diets, and EAT was induced using high-iodine drinking water. Serum levels of thyroid autoantibodies, hormones, and cytokines were measured by ELISA. Histopathological changes and the expression profiles of T/B cell subsets (Th1, Th2, Th17, Treg, Tfh, and B10) in thyroid tissues were assessed using hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunofluorescence. Results: Compared to the EAT + ND group, mice in the iron-supplemented group (EAT + IS) exhibited attenuated thyroidal lymphocyte infiltration, decreased levels of TPO-Ab, Tg-Ab, TSH, and proinflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-17, IL-21, and BAFF), along with increased expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and TGF-β). Moreover, Treg and B10 cell populations were significantly upregulated, whereas Th1, Th17, and Tfh cells were decreased. The iron-deficient group (EAT + ID) also showed a reduction in inflammatory parameters; however, this effect was likely driven by nonspecific immunosuppression rather than enhanced regulatory immunity. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that dietary iron supplementation promotes regulatory immune responses and attenuates autoimmune thyroiditis, highlighting the functional significance of adequate dietary iron intake in maintaining thyroid immune homeostasis. These results provide experimental support for dietary iron optimization as a potential nutritional approach for AITD prevention.

This study assessed the effect of milk and kefir on post-exercise recovery in young female athletes. Using a crossover design, 16 participants (14.2 ± 1.9 years) completed three high-intensity cycling sessions. Each session was followed by ingestion of water, milk or kefir (∼250 ml), with recovery outcomes assessed pre-exercise, post-exercise and post-beverage (∼90 min post-ingestion), including physical (mean power output, MPO) and cognitive performance (Stroop, Go/No-Go), heart rate variability (Ln-rMSSD), acute fluid balance (body mass), muscle soreness and perceived fatigue. Overall, recovery profiles for physical and cognitive performance, Ln-rMSSD and body mass did not differ significantly across beverages (time × beverage interactions: p > 0.05). Conversely, muscle soreness and perceived fatigue improved from post-exercise to post-beverage after water and kefir (p ≤ 0.024, r = 0.47-0.59), but not after milk (p ≥ 0.075, r = 0.40-0.42). Despite the absence of significant differences, effect size (ES) analysis indicated small pre-exercise-to-post-beverage changes in MPO for milk and kefir (ES = 0.48-0.49) compared with moderate decreases following water (ES = 1.07). Similarly, post-exercise-to-post-beverage MPO increased largely after milk and kefir (ES = 1.29-1.30), but only moderately after water (ES = 0.62). Body mass decreased moderately from pre-exercise to post-beverage with water (ES = 0.65), with trivial-to-small differences observed for milk (ES = 0.37) and kefir (ES = 0.18), while perceptual recovery appeared overall more favorable with water than milk and kefir. In conclusion, although milk and kefir showed potential benefits for physical performance and fluid balance, these findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the lack of statistical significance. Conversely, the slightly better perceptual recovery observed with water likely reflects normal variability in subjective ratings rather than true physiological differences.

Dietary anthocyanins are associated with a reduced risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However, it remains unclear whether their efficacy is mediated through the gut microbiota-bile acid-TGR5/FXR-GLP-1 axis, a mechanism extending beyond the direct antioxidant effects. This study aimed to investigate this hypothesis by examining the protective effects of anthocyanin-rich bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) extract (VME) in rats with GDM. The GDM model was induced by a high-fat diet. The extract was administered via oral gavage at 400 mg (kg day)^-1, starting 6 weeks before mating and continuing throughout the pregnancy. VME supplementation significantly alleviated core metabolic disturbances in GDM rats, including hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Mechanistically, VME induced substantial gut microbiota remodeling, as characterized by a notable increase in the amount of beneficial Lactobacillus. This shift was accompanied by marked changes in the bile acid (BA) pool, specifically an elevated level of hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA) and reduced levels of cholic acid (CA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). The modification of BAs was simultaneously linked to the activation of TGR5 and the inhibition of FXR, which subsequently correlated with stimulated GLP-1 secretion. Integrated correlation analyses further supported this pathway, linking specific microbial alterations to BA profile shifts and metabolic improvements. Altogether, our findings indicate that the anti-GDM effect of bilberry extract is consistent with action via a coordinated gut microbiota-BA-TGR5/FXR-GLP-1 pathway. This work provides a novel mechanistic basis for the dietary inclusion of anthocyanin-rich foods in GDM management strategies.

Maternal nutrition during gestation is fundamental to metabolic homeostasis. This study investigates the impact of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs, 20% sucrose water) on maternal physiology through the gut microbiota-oxidative stress-inflammation network and delineates the underlying mechanisms. Using a C57BL/6J mouse model, we implemented a maternal SSB dietary regimen sustained until late gestation. SSB exposure significantly increased maternal body weight, intestinal weight, blood glucose levels, and serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and LPS-binding protein (LBP) concentrations. Concurrently, SSBs compromised the intestinal barrier, elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and gene expression, and suppressed intestinal antioxidant capacity. We further identified that pregnancy-induced nutritional demand triggered compensatory intestinal responses, including upregulation of glucose transporters. However, in the context of SSBs, this adaptation escalated into maladaptive metabolic stress, aggravating intestinal injury, oxidative-inflammatory imbalance, and systemic metabolic disruption. Gut microbiota analysis revealed SSB-induced enrichment of Akkermansia, Prevotella, Bacteroides, Alistipes, and Bifidobacterium, with functional enrichment in carbohydrate metabolism and the TCA cycle. These microbial shifts were accompanied by altered short chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles, characterized by elevated acetate and propionate but reduced butyrate, further disrupting gut homeostasis and maternal metabolism. By constructing an integrated "SSBs-microbiota-metabolites-maternal health" network, we elucidate how excessive Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) colonization under gestational high sugar conditions contributes to mucosal breakdown and systemic inflammation. This study provides mechanistic evidence supporting sugar restriction during pregnancy, with important implications for preventing gestational metabolic diseases and improving maternal health outcomes.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) has long been recognized for its mood-enhancing properties. However, the precise contribution and neurobiological mechanisms of its main active compounds, crocins and safranal, remain underexplored, despite their potential to improve the management of mood disorders. This preclinical study compared their antidepressant-like effects alongside their impact on key neurobiological systems involved in mood regulation. Additionally, it assessed safranal's oral bioavailability, which was previously unknown. C57BL/6J mice received an acute oral dose of crocins (250 µg kg^-1) or safranal (75 µg kg^-1), corresponding to the respective amounts present in the saffron extract Safr'Inside™ at the dose previously used in preclinical studies, 30 min before behavioral assessment. Dopaminergic function was evaluated via quantification of dopamine and its metabolites by HPLC-ECD, combined with RT-qPCR analysis of related receptors and transporters, while kynurenine pathway activation was assessed through mRNA expression of its key enzymes in the prefrontal cortex and striatum. Both compounds reduced depressive-like behavior, albeit with distinct response patterns. Crocins primarily modulated the dopaminergic system, whereas safranal selectively downregulated neurotoxic components of the kynurenine pathway, shifting its neurotoxic/neuroprotective balance to promote neuroprotection. In parallel, serum and brain concentrations of safranal were measured at 15 and 30 min after oral administration of increasing doses, using a newly developed and validated UHPLC-DAD-MS/MS method. This allowed, for the first time, the detection of safranal in both serum and the brain following a single administration using a validated analytical method. Altogether, these findings provide novel and valuable insights into the disposition of safranal following oral administration and the distinct neurobiological mechanisms of saffron bioactives, highlighting their complementary roles and supporting their relevance as functional agents for mood-related disorders.

Functional starch modification may help address technical challenges commonly encountered in gluten-free cereals, such as suboptimal texture, reduced volume, and rapid staling, yet it also raises concerns about the protein quality of these grains. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of starch cross-linking and pre-gelatinization on the protein quality of gluten-containing (wheat) and gluten-free (corn, millet) cereals in vivo. Eighty-eight weanling Wistar rats were assigned to eleven isocaloric, isonitrogenous dietary groups (8 rats per group): protein-free, casein, and three types of bread flours; wheat, corn, and millet, each provided in regular (R), cross-linked (CL), or pregelatinized (PG) forms (10% w/w protein). Over 28 days, body weight gain, nitrogen balance, protein efficiency ratio (PER), true protein digestibility (TPD), and protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS), as well as serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and albumin levels were assessed. Rats fed with cereal-based diets showed significantly (p < 0.05) reduced weight gain (40-80%), PER (34-74%), PDCAAS (56-76%), and IGF-I concentrations (25-50%) compared to their casein-group counterparts. The PER was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in CL and PG wheat (0.52 ± 0.06 and 0.43 ± 0.06) compared to the R wheat group (1.09 ± 0.03), whereas effects in corn and millet groups were limited. TPD, PDCAAS, and IGF-I tended to decline in CL and PG groups (3-8%, 3-8%, and 22-29% respectively) across all cereals. These results suggest that protein quality in wheat-based diets was reduced by starch cross-linking and pre-gelatinization compared to corn- and millet-based diets. Therefore, starch modification in these gluten-free cereals can enhance industrial applications while preserving protein quality.