Food & Function最新文献

Impairment of gut barrier integrity is associated with the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and coeliac disease. While many aspects of diet have been linked to improved barrier function, (poly)phenols, a broad group of bioactive phytochemicals, are of potential interest. The (poly)phenolic sub-class, flavan-3-ols, have been investigated in some detail owing to their abundance in commonly consumed foods, including grapes, tea, apples, cocoa, berries, and nuts. This review summarises studies on the effects of flavan-3-ols, their microbiome-mediated metabolites, and food sources of these compounds, on gut barrier structure. Extensive evidence demonstrates that flavan-3-ol rich foods, individual flavan-3-ols (e.g., (epi)catechin, epi(gallo)catechin-3-O-gallate, and pro(antho)cyanidins), and their related microbiota-mediated metabolites, could be effective in protecting and restoring the integrity of the gut barrier. In this context, various endpoints are assessed, including transepithelial electrical resistance of the epithelial layer and expression of tight junction proteins and mucins, in ex vivo, in vitro, and animal models. The differences in bioactivity reported for barrier integrity are structure–function dependent, related to the (poly)phenolic source or the tested compound, as well as their dose, exposure time, and presence or absence of a stressor in the experimental system. Overall, these results suggest that flavan-3-ols and related compounds could help to maintain, protect, and restore gut barrier integrity, indicating that they might contribute to the beneficial properties associated with the intake of their dietary sources. However, rigorous and robustly designed human intervention studies are needed to confirm these experimental observations.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammation with a high incidence rate. Many probiotics, including Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus), have shown promise in IBD treatment. The therapeutic effects of most probiotics are greatly decided by the available live cells in the disease lesion, which is compromised as they pass through the gastric juice and intestinal tract, resulting in a loss of activity. To improve probiotic delivery efficiency in the intestinal tract, broken Ganoderma lucidum spore shells (bGLS) were explored as a carrier to enhance the intestinal tract delivery of L. rhamnosus SHA113, a probiotic that has been verified to have capability to treat IBD. It was found the bGLS treated with iturin A and hydrochloric acid (IH-bGLS) had much higher affinity to probiotic cells than the untreated ones. This is possibly due to the enhancement of hydrophobic and positive charge of bGLS. Furthermore, IH-bGLS demonstrated an 81% loading efficiency for L. rhamnosus SHA113 and 2.2% for Escherichia coli. More importantly, loading in IH-bGLS greatly enhanced the delivery of L. rhamnosus SHA113 cells to the colon and prolonged their retention time from 48 to over 120 h (P < 0.01). The mechanisms might be related to the enhancement of probiotic cell adhesion to the gastrointestinal mucosa, increase of mucus secretion and the upregulated expression of tight junction proteins, occludin and ZO-1, in the colon. The results of the animal experiment showed that the therapeutic effects of L. rhamnosus SHA113 on IBD were greatly enhanced when they were loaded with IH-bGLS. The novelty of this research is in the development of probiotic carriers from bGLS, which has significance in the improvement of intestinal delivery efficiency and the therapeutic effects of probiotics on IBD. This system may have attractive application in the enhancement of probiotic delivery efficiency in the intestinal tract, which is important to ensure and enhance the beneficial effects of probiotics.

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (STM) causes severe colitis, necessitating the development of effective drugs. Here, the dockings of limonin with the STM T3SS-1 virulence factor SopB or SopE2 showed strong binding activity in silico and was verified by CETSA and DARTS assays in vitro. Limonin inhibited the enzyme activities and expression of SopB and SopE2 in vitro. Furthermore, we found that limonin treatment significantly reduced the number of STM colony-forming units (CFUs) in infected HeLa and Raw264.7 cells, which resulted in a decrease in the rate of membrane ruffling mediated by SopB-regulated Arf6/Cyth2/Arf1-, RAC1-, and CDC42-driven Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerization and the SopE2-regulated CDC42/Arp2/3 pathway, and the confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis revealed that limonin treatment repressed the recruitment of the Salmonella-containing vacuole (SCV) biomarkers LC3, Rab7, GAL8 and NDP52. Furthermore, limonin treatment ameliorated STM-induced colitis by reducing the disease activity index (DAI), colon shortening, and MPO and EPO activities; mitigating the severity of S. Typhimurium-induced colitis damage; and influencing the levels of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ) while increasing the levels of colonic epithelial barrier and tight junction genes (Mucin 1, Mucin 2, Occludin, Claudin-3 and ZO-1). A gut microbiota analysis revealed that limonin treatment influenced α- and β-diversity of the flora and increased the counts of the beneficial bacteria Muribaculum and Faecalibaculum to regulate gut microbiota dysbiosis. Finally, colon SCFA measurements revealed that limonin treatment significantly increased acetate, butyrate, propionate and valerate concentrations. Thus, this study is an important reference for the anti-STM effects of limonin on induced colitis.

Curcuminoid absorption can be influenced by the presence of additional compounds, but there has been no study investigating this in a robust manner. The aim of this clinical trial was to assess the effect of the type of food matrix on the absorption of curcuminoids from a highly bioavailable turmeric formulation. Participants consumed the turmeric formulation in the form of capsules, a ready-to-drink fruit nectar, a sports nutrition bar, a dairy analogue (oat milk), pectin gummies, and a probiotic drink in a randomized, crossover study. Plasma samples were collected over a 24-hour period to assess the pharmacokinetics of curcuminoids. The relative bioavailability of total curcuminoids was increased in all the food matrices compared to that in the capsule formulation. The dairy analogue showed the highest increase in dose-normalized AUC_{24 h} (+76%, p < 0.0001) and C_max (+105%, p < 0.0001). The sports nutrition bar resulted in increased dose-normalized AUC_{24 h} (+40%, p = 0.0112) and C_max (+74%, p < 0.0001). The probiotic drink showed increased dose-normalized AUC_{24 h} (+35%, p = 0.0318) and C_max (+52%, p < 0.0001). The ready-to-drink and gummy formulations were bioequivalent to the capsules. The distribution of curcuminoid metabolites was similar in all the matrices. In conclusion, there was no negative food matrix effect; on the contrary, the bioavailability of curcuminoids can be improved when administered via food matrices, particularly those containing lipids in a suspended form or polar lipids.

The effectiveness of high-carbohydrate diets (HCD) on cognitive impairment is still being debated. To clarify the impact of HCD on the cognitive behavior of mice under low-pressure hypoxic conditions, we studied 24 mice in different environments while subjecting them to dietary intervention for 5 weeks, and conducting behavioral tests. Under low-pressure hypoxic conditions, HCD intervention reversed the decline in spatial learning and memory abilities in mice caused by hypoxia, ameliorated pathological brain damage, and restored the integrity of the intestinal mucosa. We also identified differences in the microbial community. Under low-pressure hypoxic conditions, the intestinal abundance of Parasutterella in mice decreased, the abundance of harmful bacteria such as Desulfovibrio increased, and apoptosis was more prevalent, possibly explaining the observed decreases in glutathione peroxidase activity and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the brain. HCD intervention increased the intestinal abundance of Bifidobacterium in hypoxic mice, reduced the abundances of Desulfovibrio and Faecalibaculum, and played antioxidant roles by lowering malondialdehyde levels and increasing superoxide dismutase activity in the brain by metabolizing amino acids and lipids. HCD also upregulated hippocampal BDNF levels and downregulated caspase 3. Collectively, these results are important because they help explain how HCD intervention can reduce hypoxia-induced damage to brain function.

The effects of wheat and oat dietary fiber (DF) alone or combined on T2DM remain unclear. In this research, db/db diabetic mice were fed with diets containing 10% insoluble wheat dietary fiber (WDF), 10% insoluble oat dietary fiber (ODF), and 10% WODF (mixture of WDF and ODF, WDF : ODF = 1 : 1) for 8 weeks. The results showed that WDF, ODF, and WODF all reduced the body weight and fasting blood glucose (FBG) and improved oral glucose tolerance in db/db mice. WDF and ODF alone further relieved insulin resistance and decreased the levels of glycated hemoglobin A1c (GHbA1c), and glycosylated serum protein (GSP). In addition, WDF and ODF alone decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in serum. The colon function was improved and similar changes were observed in the gut microbiota structure and abundance in all the DF groups. The change of gut microbiota mainly manifested as reducing F/B ratio at the phylum level, while at the genus level as decreasing Enterococcus, Escherichia–Shigella, Erysipelatoclostridium, and unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae and increase of norank_f_Muribaculaceae, Bacteroides, and Alistipes. Further testing of colonic bile acids (BAs) revealed that WDF, ODF, and WODF all significantly changed the composition of BAs, mainly reducing the levels of UDCA, HDCA, and 3β-UDCA. WODF further decreased DCA and increased β-MCA, LCA-3S, and 12-KCDCA. Importantly, WODF reduced the values of 12-OH-BAs/non-12-OH-BAs. Moreover, the TGR5 level was up-regulated in both the liver and colon, and the FXR level was up-regulated in the liver while down-regulated in the colon in all the DF groups. Furthermore, for the protein level, IRS-1, p-PI3K/PI3K, and AKT were up-regulated in the liver in all the DF groups, while for the mRNA expression level, GLUT4 was up-regulated, and FOXO1, GSK3β, PEPCK, and PGC-1α were down-regulated. WDF and WODF further up-regulated the mRNA expression levels of GYS and down-regulated that of G6Pase. These results suggested that WDF, ODF, and WODF all can alleviate T2DM through the gutmicrobiota-BAs-TGR5/FXR axis and liver IRS-1/PI3K/AKT pathway in db/db mice. WDF and ODF alone are beneficial for improving glucose metabolism and inflammation indicators, while WODF helps improve BAs’ profile more in the colon.

An in vitro digestion model was established to characterize the types of collagens in skin of cod, white fish, and salmon as well as their collagen-containing skin-derived protein hydrolysates (CSPH) before and after digestion. Moreover, the mineral content and their bioaccessibility were evaluated. Finally, the presence of heavy metals was evaluated to assess the safety of these products. The results showed that white fish protein exhibited a high digestibility, reaching up to 92%. Among the collagen products, salmon collagen had the highest digestibility (∼73%). Protein identification revealed that the emPAI of type I collagen in digested skin and CSPH was higher than that of undigested samples. In addition, raw skins had higher contents of P, K, Ca and Mg, and the mineral content of CSPH was lower than that of unprocessed skins. Among the minerals studied, Ca and Cu showed the highest bioaccessibility in raw skin cod, being 32% and 26%, respectively. The bioaccessibility of Cu in raw skin salmon was also higher (∼34%). Moreover, in CSPH, Mg, K and Cu can be easily digested and absorbed. Regarding heavy metals, As and Pb were below the respective safe limits in all raw skins and CSPH, while Hg and Cd were not detected in the fish CSPH. Fish-derived collagen has gained significant attention due to its numerous health benefits, high bioavailability, and superior sustainability compared to animal collagen. Moreover, different types of collagens offer distance roles and advantages in the body. However, there are limited reports on how collagen structure and type may change during the digestive process. This study seeks to deepen our understanding of the economic value of fish collagen, as well as the mechanisms of its absorption and digestion. By investigating processes, the research aims to provide a clearer insight into the physiological effects of fish-derived collagen, which can inform the development of tailored collagen supplementation programs based on specific health needs.

Various dietary polyphenols have demonstrated potent anti-tumor properties and are being evaluated as potential adjuncts in cancer treatment. Although several reviews have offered extensive insights into the anti-tumor activities of dietary polyphenols, they frequently lack a detailed discussion on the design of therapeutic protocols and targeted delivery strategies of these compounds, which impedes the translation of their biological activity into clinical practice. This article aims to deliver a comprehensive review of the anti-tumor properties of dietary polyphenols, while also examining the design and implementation of nanotherapy systems based on these compounds. Additionally, given the challenges of low water solubility and stability of dietary polyphenols, this article outlines the current methodologies for the formulation and delivery of nano-preparations to enhance tumor targeting and therapeutic efficacy. This comprehensive review aspires to deepen our understanding of the operational mechanisms of dietary polyphenols and expand their clinical applications, thereby facilitating the development of polyphenol-based dietary supplements and food additives, and promoting the progress of dietary polyphenol-related nanomedicine.

β-Amyloid (Aβ) aggregation is the major pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), resulting in oxidative stress and further exacerbating Aβ aggregation. Ginger leaf polyphenols (GLP) have been found to possess antioxidant activity, evidencing their potential in addressing AD. GLP is mainly composed of 12 polyphenols, 8 organic acids, and 6 glycosides, of which polyphenols are predominantly composed of apigenin, kaempferol, and quercetin derivatives. Moreover, GLP alleviates reproductive toxicity, longevity toxicity, and neurotoxicity induced by Aβ via regulating the antioxidase system in Caenorhabditis elegans. As shown by the network pharmacology results, GLP might activate the JNK/Foxo signaling pathway to regulate the antioxidase system, which was evidenced by the up-regulation of gene expression levels of jnk-1, daf-16, sod-3, and hsp-16.2. Overall, GLP might be a potential antioxidant for combating AD.

Indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), a metabolite produced by gut microbiota through tryptophan metabolism, has recently been identified as playing a pivotal role in bone metabolism. IPA promotes osteoblast differentiation by upregulating mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam), contributing to increased bone density and supporting bone repair. Simultaneously, it inhibits the formation and activity of osteoclasts, reducing bone resorption, possibly through modulation of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway and downregulation of osteoclast-associated factors, thereby maintaining bone structural integrity. Additionally, IPA provides indirect protection to bone health by regulating host immune responses and inflammation via activation of receptors such as the Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) and the Pregnane X Receptor (PXR). This review summarizes the roles and signaling pathways of IPA in bone metabolism and its impact on various bone metabolic disorders. Furthermore, we discuss the therapeutic potential and limitations of IPA in treating bone metabolic diseases, aiming to offer novel strategies for clinical management.