Proceedings, 2020, IECN 2020

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic disease characterized by inflammatory response and abnormal autoimmune disease. Vitamin D is essential in phosphorus-calcium metabolism, has immunosuppressive properties, and is considered a therapeutic option. Controversy exists about the role of this vitamin in the pathogenesis of SLE. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the dietary intake of vitamin D and its supplementation in a cohort of patients with SLE. A cross-sectional study including a total 285 patients with SLE was conducted (248 females and 26 males; mean age 46.99 ± 12.89 years). The SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI-2K) and the SLICC/ACR damage index (SDI) were used to assess disease activity and disease-related damage, respectively. Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP; mg/dL), homocysteine (Hcy; mol/L), anti-double stranded DNA antibodies (anti-dsDNA) (IU/mL), complement C3 (mg/dL), and complement C4 (mg/dL), among other biochemical markers, were measured. The dietary intake of vitamin D and the intake of vitamin D supplement were obtained via a 24-h patient diary. A share of 57.1% of the patients took vitamin D supplements and the average of dietary vitamin D was 2.08 ± 2.94 μg/day. Note that 98.2% of patients did not reach the recommended dietary intakes for vitamin D intake. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that clinical and laboratory variables are not significantly affected by vitamin D intake levels after adjusting for age, gender, energy intake, and medical treatment (immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, and antimalarials). Patients with SLE who took vitamin D supplements had significantly higher serum complement C3 levels compared to patients who did not take them after adjusting for covariates (110.28 ± 30.93 vs. 107.38 ± 24.18; p = 0.018). Our findings suggest a potential impact of supplementation of vitamin D on the activity of SLE. Future longitudinal research on SLE patients, including intervention trials, are required to validate these preliminary data. Full article

: Maternal obesity is a metabolic disorder described by chronic inflammation and an increase of stress hormones, influencing non-communicable diseases in offspring. Elateriospermum tapos has the potential as an antioxidant and inhibitor of lipids (pancreatic lipase) and carbohydrates (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) which are beneficial to combat obesity and diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the effect of E. tapos supplementation in obese rats prior to pregnancy on the dam and male offspring body weight and the level of stress hormones—adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT). Thirty female Sprague Dawley rats were used in this study. Six rats were assigned to a normal diet (DND) group fed with a standard chow diet. The remaining rats were fed with a high-fat and cafeteria diet (HFCD) to generate obesity for five weeks. The obese rats were further divided into four groups (n = 6/group); dams negative control group (DNC, normal saline), dams positive control group (DPC, 200 mg/kg body weight of orlistat), dams treatment 1 group (DTX1, 200 mg/kg BW of E. tapos seed) and dams treatment 2 group (DTX2, 200 mg/kg BW of E. tapos shell). The treatment was given for six weeks daily before mating. At weaning, male offspring were designated into six groups according to their dam’s group (n = 6/group) and continued with the cafeteria diet except for the control group. The offspring were culled at 12 weeks of age for blood sample collections. DTX2 and their male adult offspring showed significantly lower body weight compared to DNC and their male offspring. Male offspring from DTX2 also showed significantly low ACTH and CORT levels compared to male offspring from the DNC group and a comparable level with the DND group. E. tapos shell supplementation was effective in reducing the development of obesity and suppressed stress through the regulation of ACTH and CORT release in male adult offspring. Full article

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Elateriospermum tapos aqueous extract supplementation on serum leptin of male offspring at weaning. A total of 30 female Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to two groups, where the control group (CG) consisted of six rats and the remaining rats had obesity-induced over five weeks with a high-fat diet pellet and cafeteria food. After five weeks, the obese group was further divided into four groups, a negative control group (NG), positive control group (PG) (orlistat 200 mg/kg), treatment 1 (TX1) (200 mg/kg BW of E. tapos seed) and treatment 2 (TX2) (200 mg/kg BW of E. tapos shell) for 6 weeks. After six weeks, all rats were mated and continued with their respective diet till weaning. One male pup from each dam culled at weaning (postnatal day 21 (PND21)). The results show that body weight in male offspring (M) from negative group dams (NG) was significantly heavier as compared to other pup groups. Total adipose tissue weight in MTX1 and MTX2 of the male offspring was also significantly lower compared to MNG. In mums, serum leptin of NG was significantly higher as compared to the CG group, whereas both treatment groups showed a significant reduction in serum leptin compared to the NG group. In pups, the MTX2 group showed a more substantial reduction in body weight and serum leptin compared to other pups from other mother’s groups. In conclusion, E. tapos aqueous extract supplementation has a greater effect on ameliorating maternal obesity effects on male offspring by lowering body weight, inhibit fat deposition, and reducing serum leptin. Full article

Natural products derived from plants are used to treat cancer due to fewer side effects compared to standard treatments available for cancer. The second highest cancer that causes death worldwide is lung cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the cytotoxic activity of hot and cold aqueous extract of E. tapos seed and shell on human cancer cell line A549 as well as the apoptosis mechanism. The apoptosis mechanisms were evaluated by cell viability (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide tetrazolium reduction assay; MTT assay), Hoechst 33358 staining and detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity. The apoptosis inducing activity was analyzed in set of morphological and biochemical features. Hot aqueous shell extract (SHH) showed an anti-proliferative effect at the IC₅₀ of 49.8 ± 0.06 µg/mL correlated with apoptosis induction by increasing the ROS activity by significant (p < 0.05) increase of 3.25 folds compared to control. Results suggest that SHH poses an anti-proliferative effect on account of apoptosis through ROS mediated mitochondria mutilation. Full article

Rationale: Intestinal microbiota plays a significant role in the human body. A range of negative factors may lead to dysbiosis, which results in many diseases (e.g., cancer) and metabolic disorders. It was shown that people with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥25 kg/m² present diminished microbial diversity. Additional negative factors such as stress, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and proton pomp inhibitors (PPI) may result in greater dysbiosis compared to people with normal body mass. The aim of the study was to compare the incidence of negative factors affecting the intestinal microbiota in people with excessive body mass vs. people with normal body mass. Methods: The study involved volunteers aged 18–65 years: 582 people with normal BMI (18.5–24.99 kg/m²) and 538 people with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². The study was conducted using the author’s survey by the Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing method. The survey included the questions on sociodemographic features, level of physical activity, frequency of smoking, and stress. Frequency of NSAID and PPI use was also investigated. BMI was used to assess nutritional status. For statistics the Fisher test was implemented. p-Value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Women predominated in the study (p < 0.0001). People with normal BMI had a significantly higher level of physical activity (p < 0.0001) and smoked less (p = 0.0356). People with excessive body mass were less likely to report illness (p = 0.0004), but more often they took PPI (p = 0.0337). Conclusions: People with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² present more factors which may result in dysbiosis and lead to dysbiosis-related health problems in future compared to people with normal BMI. Full article

Uncontrolled proliferation and death resistance are two hallmarks of cancer cells. Breast cancer (BC) has the highest incidence and mortality in women worldwide and national; subtype triple negative (TN) is the most aggressive type because it is not susceptible to conventional therapy. Since 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) approved use of alternative treatments as adjuvants based on evidence of its benefits. Since then, different natural alternatives to treat cancer have been studied, including Origanum vulgare (Ov) and carvacrol (Crv), one of its main compounds. However, cytotoxic potential of these products has not been studied in this subtype of BC. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of Ov and Crv on TN BC cell line (HCC-70). Lethal dose 50 was determined on control cell line HaCaT through 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays with Ov and Crv stimulus in different doses and concentrations; the found dose was used on the HCC-70 cell line. The results were evaluated by ANOVA, finding that Ov reduced the proliferation by 94.05% ± 0.11 (p < 0.001) and Crv by 93.43% ± 0.21 (p < 0.001) compared to untreated cells. This suggests that both Ov and Crv present a powerful cytotoxic effect against the HCC-70 cell line and are promising options that should receive further study. Full article

Albizia myriophylla (ABZ) is a plant used in Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type II. The antioxidant activities of ABZ have been suggested as one of the mechanisms for the observed beneficial effects. Hence, this study examined the phenolic, flavonoid, and saponin contents and antioxidant activity from methanol extract (ME) and its derived fractions hexane (HE), chloroform (CE), ethyl acetate (EAE), butanol (BE), and aqueous fraction of the bark of ABZ (AE). Amongst the extracts, EAE showed the highest total phenolic content of about 0.77 mg of gallic acid equivalent/g of extract (mg GAE/mg). However, the highest flavonoid content was detected in HE at 1.04 µg retinol equivalent ((RE)/g extract), while the saponin content was highest in CE at 1.1 µg diosgenin equivalent ((DE)/g extract). In 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhidrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging test, EAE at 100 µg/mL had the highest percentage of inhibition of about 72.55%. 2-2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS radical scavenging test) showed BE had the highest percentage of inhibition at 100 µg/mL at 82.91%. Ferric reducing antioxidant power elucidated BE as having the highest percentage of inhibition which was 86.04% followed closely by ME at 85.90%. Thus, the different extracts of ABZ displayed various antioxidant capacity with probable free radical scavenging activity, which may be useful for the treatment of chronic inflammatory related metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. Full article

Animal studies have demonstrated that energy-restricted diets and exercise affect the gut microbiome and are positively linked to physical health; however, less is known about the impacts of various patterns of dietary restriction combined with exercise on the gut microbiota and associated health outcomes in humans. This study aimed to determine if an energy-restricted diet combined with resistance training altered the gut microbiome, and whether any changes were associated with differences in body composition, dietary intake, or biomarkers of metabolic health. Twenty-six healthy males and females, aged 19–36 years with BMIs of 22–35 kg/m², were enrolled in a 2-arm parallel, randomized controlled trial and followed either a 5:2 intermittent fasting (IFT, n = 13) or continuous energy restriction (CERT, n = 13) diet combined with supervised resistance training for 12 weeks. Both treatments resulted in decreased body weight and increased lean body mass. Shifts in the abundance of, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, a high butyrate producer, was positively associated with changes in lean body mass (IFTp = 0.05, CERTp = 0.01) in both the groups. Moreover, in the CERT group, changes in Coprococcus genus were negatively associated with energy (p = 0.009) and fat intake (p= 0.03) and positively associated with body fat (p = 0.02). Overall, the findings indicate that using resistance training paired with either intermittent or continuous energy restriction, result in similar changes in bacterial diversity and shifts in relative abundance of bacterial taxa. The shift in specific bacterial taxa were positively associated with measures of physical health providing further support to the proposed relationship between energy consumption, exercise, gut microbiota, and physical health. Full article

Seaweeds have been an important part of the diet of coastal populations in Asia possibly for millennia but only a few scattered coastal communities in Europe and the Americas have maintained these traditions. Our studies have investigated the potential of two tropical seaweeds grown commercially in Asia, Sarconema and Caulerpa spp., as functional foods for the reversal of metabolic syndrome and possible mechanisms. Sarconema spp. are a source of carrageenans used as thickening and gelling agents in foods, while Caulerpa spp. are consumed in Southeast Asia as low-energy foods with high contents of vitamins and minerals. For our studies, male Wistar rats were divided into groups in a 16-week protocol: corn starch diet-fed rats (C); C rats supplemented with 5% dried seaweed for the last 8 weeks; high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed rats (H); and H rats supplemented with 5% dried seaweed for the last 8 weeks. H rats developed obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, glucose intolerance, fatty liver and increased left ventricular collagen deposition, infiltration of inflammatory cells and plasma liver enzyme activities. Seaweed supplementation decreased body weight, abdominal and liver fat, systolic blood pressure, plasma lipid concentrations, plasma activities of liver enzymes and collagen deposition. Furthermore, seaweed supplementation modulated gut microbiota. Possible mechanisms for improved cardiovascular and metabolic health include a reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells into organs as well as an increased intake of fibre modulating gut microbiota composition. Full article

The Mediterranean diet (MD) is recognised as one of the healthiest diets worldwide and is associated with the prevention of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, among others. Dietary habits are considered one of the strongest modulators of the gut microbiota, which seems to play a significant role in the health and disease of the host. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate interactive associations between gut microbiota composition and habitual dietary intake in 360 Spanish adults of the Obekit cohort (normal weight, overweight and obese subjects). Dietary intake and adherence to the MD tests together with faecal samples were collected from each subject. Faecal 16S rRNA sequencing was performed and checked against the dietary habits. MetagenomeSeq was the statistical tool applied to analyse at the species taxonomic level. Results from this study confirm that a strong adherence to the MD increases the population of some beneficial bacteria, improving microbiota status towards a healthier pattern. Bifidobacterium animalis is the species with the strongest association with the MD. One of the highlights is the positive association between several SCFA-producing bacteria and high adherence to the MD. In conclusion, this study shows that MD, fibre, legumes, vegetables, fruit and nuts intakes are associated with an increase in butyrate-producing taxa such as Roseburia faecis, Ruminococcus bromii and Oscillospira (Flavonifractor) plautii. Full article

Lifestyle, including regular physical activity and dietary habits, influences microbiota composition. Although some studies have demonstrated changes in microbiota composition due to moderate or high intensity training in athletes, the relationship between physical activity and changes in the intestinal bacteria is still a matter of discussion. In addition, as most studies are performed on males, the role of sexual dimorphism deserves to be explored. Therefore, the aim of this preliminary study was to ascertain the influence of an intensive training and the rat’s sex on caecal microbiota composition. For this purpose, female and male 4-week-old Wistar rats were submitted to a 4-week running training program. At the end, caecal samples were collected immediately after performing an exhaustion test to characterize the microbiota composition by 16S rRNA sequencing technique. Parallel groups of female and male sedentary (SED) rats (age matched) were included. The results showed that young female rats had a higher ability to run than males but no sex- or training-associated changes were observed on microbiota diversity and richness indexes among groups. However, the Actinobacteria, Bifidobacteriaceae and Bifidobacterium spp. proportions were significantly higher in male than in female rats when comparing SED groups (p < 0.05), whose proportions in males were decreased by the training program (p < 0.05 vs. SED). On the contrary, female SED rats showed a higher proportion of Odoribacteraceae (belonging to Bacteroidetes), Clostridiaceae and Eubacteriaceae (both Firmicutes) than in the respective male group (p < 0.05), although Eubacteriaceae proportion decreased by running (p < 0.05 vs. SED). However, training increased the proportion of the Paraeggerthella genus (Actinobacteria) in female rats with respect to its sedentary counterpart (p < 0.05). Overall, caecal microbiota composition is modified by intensive training in young rats but there are also sex-based differences that should be considered for interventional studies. Full article

Proteins, peptides and amino acids (AAs) that bypass upper gastrointestinal (GI) digestion can be fermented in the colonic regions. This could lead to microbial production of health promoting short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Nitrogenous compounds can also be fermented to generate potentially harmful branched chain fatty acids (BCFAs). As collagen hydrolysate (CH) supplements contain a high peptide content, we evaluated whether peptides that undergo intestinal CH digestion and microbial fermentation can generate SCFAs and BCFAs. Two bovine-sourced CH formulations (CH-GL and CH-OPT) underwent digestive processes and microbial fermentation for 24 h in a dynamic GI digestion model containing human fecal matter. After 24 h, CH-OPT showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in SCFAs (propionic, butyric and valeric acids) in the ascending colonic vessel with no changes observed with CH-GL. Only CH-OPT showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in BCFAs, also noted in the ascending colon. No significant (p < 0.05) changes to SCFAs and BCFAs were observed in the transverse and descending colons for both CHs. These findings demonstrate that CHs can induce microbial production of SCFAs and BCFAs although this appears to depend on the CH tested. More studies are needed to determine the physiological significance of these microbial metabolites from intake of CH supplements. Full article

In the present work, we aimed to explore the potential of two groups of marine invertebrates—sea cucumbers (Echinodermata) and ascidians (Chordata)—as sources of anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and osteogenic compounds with potential to be used as pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals for the treatment and prevention of chronic diseases. 24 extracts (ethanol, water, and ethyl acetate) from 4 species of sea cucumbers and 4 species of tunicates were produced and screened in vitro for their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities and in vivo for osteogenic activity through an assay using zebrafish larvae. Our results showed that ethanolic extracts presented anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, which revealed to be stronger in the ascidians. The osteogenic activity, which provides evidence of the bioactive potential of these organisms in preventing chronic disorders causing low bone density, was found to be strong in one species of ascidians and 3 of holothurians. This study demonstrates the high potential of extracts from these marine organisms for using as nutraceuticals in the prevention of chronic bone disorders. Full article

Population data indicate that consumption of common bean reduces breast cancer risk, an effect replicated in a well characterized rodent model of mammary carcinogenesis. However, low molecular weight fractions of bean failed to inhibit growth of established breast cancer cell lines. Given that cell culture screens for anticancer activity are designed to detect a decrease in cell number accumulation, we reasoned that it might be possible to create a cell number accumulation assay for screening foods such as common bean in vivo by using an oncogene driven model for breast cancer. A benefit of this approach is that it permits simultaneous detection of systemic effects in the host and their potential mediation by the gut microbiome. We report an in vivo mammary cell accumulation assay driven by the polyoma middle T antigen (PyMT) oncogene and show that bean feeding reduced the accumulation of cells in developing mammary pathologies. As a candidate mediator, we report the impact of bean consumption on the gut associated microbiome. Differences were observed between common bean and the control diet in microbial phylogenetic diversity, beta diversity, abundance of various taxa, and predicted functional activity. Full article

Amygdalin—a plant-based bioactive constituent particularly abundant in bitter almond has been identified as featuring the cyanogenic glycoside chemical organic compound which was originally intended to be a medication for cancer treatment once hydrolyzed to hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Unfortunately, studies have revealed that HCN can similarly affect normal cells, rendering it harming the human body. Both in vivo and in vitro investigations are extremely controversial and make its use unsafe. An updated substantial review on the source, structure, intervention with gut microbiota, anticancer therapy, bioavailability, and microencapsulation of amygdalin was summarized. Amygdalin provided anti-tumor, anti-fibrotic, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, analgesic, ameliorating digestive and reproductive systems, and enhancing neurodegeneration as well as myocardial hypertrophy. Studies confirmed the toxicity of amygdalin produced by its HCN after oral ingestion. However, the intravenous route of administration was much less toxic than the oral route and can be avoided with an oral dosage ranging from 0.6 to 1 g daily. The diversity of gut consortium is a key factor in inducing toxicity by amygdalin. Indeed, there is no guaranteed way to point out the microbial consortium for each person and provide a safe oral dosage. Recently, the encapsulating of amygdalin using alginate–chitosaninanoparticles (ACNPs) as transporter was investigated. As an active drug delivery mechanism for regulated and constant release of amygdalin with its enhanced cytotoxic effect on cancerous cells, biocompatible and biodegradable ACNPs can be applied while protectinginormal cells and tissues. In conclusion, still unproven and conflicting facts give way to a broad avenue of researchifor a compound that could potentially be the next stage of cancer therapy. Full article

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a prevalent micronutrient insufficiency. Although the gut is a vital organ for Zn utilization, and Zn deficiency is associated with impaired intestinal permeability and a global decrease in gastrointestinal health, alterations in the gut microbial ecology of the host under conditions of Zn deficiency have yet to be studied. By conducting a series of long-term in vivo (Gallus gallus) feeding trials, we aimed to characterize distinct cecal microbiota shifts induced by chronic dietary Zn depletion in the context of complete diets based on Zn-biofortified food crops that are relevant to target populations, and in geographical regions where dietary Zn deficiency is a major health concern. We demonstrate that Zn deficiency induces significant taxonomic alterations and decreases overall species richness and diversity, establishing a microbial profile resembling that of various other pathological states. Through metagenomic analysis, we show that the predicted Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways responsible for macro- and micronutrient uptake are significantly depleted under Zn deficiency; along with concomitant decreases in beneficial short-chain fatty acids, such depletions may further preclude optimal host Zn availability. We also identify several candidate microbes that may play a significant role in modulating the bioavailability and utilization of dietary Zn during prolonged deficiency. Our results are the first to characterize a unique and dysbiotic cecal microbiota during Zn deficiency, and they provide evidence for such microbial perturbations as potential effectors of the Zn-deficient phenotype. Full article

Per-arnt-sim (PAS) kinase is a nutrient sensing serine/threonine kinase whose absence protects against triglyceride accumulation, insulin resistance, a decreased metabolic rate and increased weight gain in response to a high fat diet, using phenotypes associated with the gut microbiome. Herein we further explored the metabolic effects of PAS kinase-deficiency(PASK^−/−) on a high fat high sugar (HFHS) diet, including contributions from an altered microbiome. PASK^−/− mice were not protected from weight gain on the HFHS diet but were resistant to liver triglyceride accumulation. Microbiome analysis of both WT and PASK^−/− mice revealed a forked shift with two discrete clusters of HFHS-fed mice emerging, which displayed increased beta and decreased alpha diversity compared with the normal chow diet (NCD). A “lower” cluster associated with both increased weight gain and glucose intolerance contained elevated levels of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Defferibacteres. Lower cluster PASK^−/− mice also influenced glucose tolerance and Claudin-1 expression, a protein associated with leaky gut. These results suggest PAS kinase-deficiency can protect mice against the deleterious effects of liver triglyceride accumulation, leaky gut and glucose intolerance in response to diet; however, microbiome imbalance can override protection. In addition, these results support a healthy diet and suggest microbial culprits associated with metabolic disease. Full article

Functional and structural alterations of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract were evaluated in mice with partial deficiency of TGF-β3 (heterozygous; HZ) and the influence of sex and diet in them. No signs of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were detected. Wild type (WT) females presented lower body weight and delayed GI transit compared to males. The HZ genotype modified the latency of marked feces expulsion, in a sex and diet dependent manner, without GI macroscopic structural alterations. A high fat diet (HFD) counteracted TGF-β3 heterozygosity functional effect in males. Sex, diet, and TGF-β3 may alter GI tract motility and structure, with a possible impact on the obesity-associated IBD. Full article

Approximately 90% of the coffee cherry is discarded as waste during coffee bean processing. Coffee pulp has been validated as a potential safe ingredient and is a potential source of nutrients and health-promoting compounds that could be used as nutraceuticals to manage some chronic diseases. Metabolic disorders associated with dysregulated energy and cellular processes, such as obesity and hyperlipidemia, contribute to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this sense, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of an in vitro simulated digestion on the hypolipidemic properties of coffee pulp flour and the biological activity of the digested fractions of its flour and extract in HepG2 cells. The hypolipidemic properties of coffee pulp flour were tested by measuring the capacities of the residual fraction of each digestion to bind cholesterol and bile salts and to inhibit the lipase activity after simulated gastric, intestinal, and colonic in vitro digestion. The results exhibited that coffee pulp residual fraction had up to 58% (p < 0.05) more capacity to bind cholesterol, 1.9-fold (p < 0.05) higher bile salts binding capacity, and 1.5-fold (p < 0.05) higher ability to reduce the lipase activity than control residues. Likewise, the digested fractions of coffee pulp flour and extract (50–250 µg/mL) significantly (p < 0.05) alleviated the accumulation of fat (14–35%), triglycerides (5–27%), and cholesterol (9–48%) triggered by the stimulation of HepG2 cells with palmitic acid (500 µM) to simulate NAFLD. In conclusion, simulated gastrointestinal and colonic digestion improves coffee pulp hypolipidemic properties, enhancing its biological activity in cell culture models. Therefore, this coffee by-product could be an interesting potential ingredient to be used to prevent hyperlipidemia and regulate lipid metabolism. Full article

This study aimed to assess the effect of the primary phytochemicals from coffee by-products and two aqueous extracts from the coffee husk and silverskin on lipid and glucose metabolism regulation in hepatocytes using an in vitro model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Coffee husk and silverskin were used to prepare two aqueous extracts (CHE and CSE, respectively) using water. The phytochemical composition was determined using UPLC-MS/MS analysis. HepG2 cells were co-treated with 10–50 µmol L^‒1 of either pure caffeine, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, or gallic acid, and kaempferol, CHE, or CSE (20–100 µg mL^‒1) in the presence or absence of palmitic acid (PA, 500 µmol L^‒1). Different biomarkers of cell metabolism were assessed 24 h after the co-treatment in cell supernatants and lysates using chemical, biochemical, and immunochemical techniques. Phytochemicals from coffee by-products decreased PA-triggered lipid accumulation (16–94%, p < 0.05) by reducing fatty acid synthase activity and stimulating lipolysis (8–83%, p < 0.05). CHE, CSE, and therein-bioactive compounds promoted glucose uptake (13–45%) via the increase in the phosphorylation of the insulin receptor (1.9- to 2.7-fold), protein kinase B (AKT) (1.4- to 3.1-fold), AMPKα (1.6- to 2.4-fold), and PTEN (2.0- to 4.2-fold). In conclusion, our results proved that phytochemicals from coffee by-products, mainly caffeine and chlorogenic acid, could regulate hepatic lipid and glucose metabolism. Overall, our results generate new insights into the use of coffee by-products as a sustainable food ingredient to encounter non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Full article

Polyphenols are compounds derived from plants found in foods with potential health benefits due to their antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to establish the consumption of polyphenols in university students and the relationship between the amount of polyphenols consumed and their health-related habits. For this, 270 university students answered a validated food consumption frequency questionnaire (FFQ), a physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), and a health and lifestyle questionnaire. From the FFQ, the daily consumption of classes and subclasses of polyphenols was calculated. Then, the population was classified in terciles according to the polyphenol consumption, and the physical activity, smoking habits, and the prevalence of allergy and obesity in each tercile was established. The consumption of polyphenols was about 1.5 g/day, being flavonoids and phenolic acids the most consumed. The main sources of polyphenol consumption were cocoa, coffee, and to a lesser extent, fruits. There were no significant differences in consumption according to sex, BMI, health status, or physical activity. The smoking habit was related to a high consumption of polyphenols, mainly those that came from coffee and cocoa. Students who smoke had a higher consumption of polyphenols with respect to nonsmokers, especially those derived from coffee. Full article

Some types of cancer are resistant to conventional treatments, such as triple-negative (TN) breast cancer (BC), which, due to its molecular characteristics, does not respond effectively. In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of medicinal plants for prevention and as an alternative in adjuvant therapy for cancer. Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (H.S.) is a plant which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidants properties. The objective of this study is to evaluate the cytotoxicity effect of the lyophilized extract of H.S. in the TN BC cell line (HCC-70) exposed to different concentrations (0.10, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL). The results were evaluated by ANOVA, finding that H.S. reduces the proliferation on TN BC cell line HCC-70 exposed at 1.0 mg/mL by 62%. The use of natural extracts as coadjuvant therapy for cancer is an alternative with great potential for future studies and provides a precedent in the area of natural medicine. Full article

Grain legumes, which are commonly referred to as pulses, are staple foods in many parts of the world, but are infrequently consumed in most economically developed countries where the obesity pandemic is prominent. However, even in low pulse consuming countries such as the United States, there are sub-groups of individuals who consume large amounts of pulses. Systematic reviews of population studies indicate that pulse consumers have a lower risk for developing obesity. To determine whether these population-based findings could be modeled in preclinical systems in which such findings can be deconstructed, we used rat and mouse models of dietary induced obesity and reported that lipid accumulation was inhibited. In this study, we examined the relationship between inhibition of fat accumulation and changes in the gut associated microbiome in male C57BL/6 mice fed either a high fat diet with casein as the protein source or that diet formulation in which one of four pulses (chickpea, common bean, dry pea, or lentil) was substituted to provide 70% dietary protein with the remainder provided by casein. The seeds of each pulse were soaked, cooked, and then freeze-dried and milled; the resulting powder was used for diet formulation. Mice were ad libitum fed over the 17-week duration of the feeding trial. Cecal content was obtained at necropsy and immediately snap frozen in liquid nitrogen. Extracted genomic DNA was processed for 16s rRNA sequencing on an Illumina system. Significant differences were observed between each pulse and the high fat control diet in microbial phylogenetic diversity (p < 0.001) and accumulation of lipid in adipose depots (p < 0.01). Differences among pulses were also observed in both metrics. Microbiome alpha and beta diversity metrics, differences in abundance for each detected taxon among treatment groups, and their relationships to changes in lipid accumulation in adipose storage depots are reported. Full article

The aim of the current work was to search for bioactive peptides Ile-Pro-Pro (IPP) and Val-Pro-Pro (VPP) with antihypertensive action in the culture medium (CM) of probiotic Lactobacillus helveticus D75 and D76 strains when cultured in milk. The CM composition was analyzed using HPLC-UV, HPLC-MS, and MALDI Fourier transformation ion-cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (MALDI FT-ICR MS, Varian). Direct analysis of CM using FT-ICR failed to detect peptides in the original CM due to the high concentration of concomitant components, but after preliminary fractionation of CM by HPLC, both peptides were detected. The masses (m/z) of characteristic ions were 312.19 (VPP) and 326.21 (IPP). Peptides were quantified using a single reference method with HPLC and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The concentrations of VPP and IPP in the CM of the D75 strain, respectively, reached 18.0 µg/mL and 25.4 µg/mL, in the CM of the D76 strain they were lower (12.7 µg/mL and 16.2 µg/mL), and in the mixed CM (both strains) the concentrations reached intermediate values of 15.7 µg/mL and 24.0 µg/mL. The data obtained indicate the existence of an active complex of extracellular enzymes in L. helveticus D75 and D76, which provide the production of IPP and VPP peptides with antihypertensive effect. The results also confirm the symbiotic properties of D75 and D76 strains (synergism and syntrophy). Functional foods based on milk fermented by probiotic L. helveticus D75 and D76 strains, which contains IPP and VPP peptides in effective doses (>3.0 mg/day), can be considered a safe and effective non-pharmacological intervention in patients with mild hypertension. Full article

We have studied the effects of aging on the fecal microbiota composition in the senescence-accelerated prone mice SAMP8 strain. We compared animals two, four, and six months old. Feces were collected at the end of each period and a genomic study was carried out on fecal DNA using the Illumina MiSeq analyzer. The Shannon diversity index showed similar values along this period and the number of species was neither affected by aging. The phylum Verrucobacteria went up with age, showing a seven-fold increase at six months, compared to two-month old mice. At the family level, changes observed between two and six months of age involved significant increases in Bacteroidaceae (q < 0.001) and strong reductions in Lactobacillaceae (q < 0.0001) and Prevotellaceae (q < 0.05); at the genus level, there was a significant reduction in probiotic Lactobacillus. At the species level, we observed an age-related reduction in Lactobacillus hayakitensis, a species involved in mucosal immune homeostasis, and in Blautia hansenii, which provides protection against Clostridium difficile infection. Interestingly, aging increases Parabacteroides goldsteiini, which is involved in the regulation of the TLR4 pathway. These results support the view that aging results in the proliferation of bacterial species that are associated with the immune deterioration of the gut mucosa. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the association between diet quality, perception of benefits consumption, and fermented dairy product intake in a representative sample of the Polish population. The study was carried out in February 2020. 2009 men and women were randomly sampled from the representative Polish population stratified for two age groups (19–30 and 66–75 years). Dairy product intake was evaluated using a qualitative frequency questionnaire. Diet quality was assessed by calculating the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) score. Perceived health benefits of dairy product consumption were assessed with a literature-based questionnaire. The Health Concern Scale was used to measure participants’ attitudes toward health. Median intake of fermented dairy products was 0.8 portion/day (IQR: 0.4–1.6). Intake of fermented dairy products was associated with higher MEDAS. We observed that people with the highest intake of fermented dairy product consumed more oils, vegetables, wine, legumes, fish and seafood, sweets and pastries, nuts, and higher preference for white meat and were more likely to report perceived benefits to maintain body weight, reduce cardiovascular risk, and improve immune and dental health. Moreover, a high intake of fermented dairy products was positively related to paying more attention to health. Our study identified patterns of health behaviors associated with frequent consumption of fermented products. We observed that the intake of fermented dairy products is associated with better diet quality, consumer self-consciousness, and a greater attitude to own health. Full article

Abstract: Obesity is an inflammatory condition associated with metabolic alterations including insulin resistance. Recent researches suggested that gut microbiota plays a role in its pathogenesis. Obesity has been associated with lower bacterial diversity and higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (F/R ratio) compared to normal‐weight condition. The objective of our study was to determine the effect of 4 months algae DHA supplementation, combined with dietary and habits education, on gut microbiota composition and biochemical parameters of 12 caucasian obese children. Anthropometric measures, metabolic profile and gut microbiota analysis trough stool samples were assessed at baseline (t0), after 4 months DHA supplementation plus diet-lifestyle intervention (t1), and lastly after additional 4 months of dietary dietary-lifestyle intervention without DHA supplementation (t2). No significant improvement in dietary habits nor in metabolic profile was found after the intervention, while a significant lowering of F/R ratio was observed from t0 to t1 and even more evident at t2 control. Full article

Background: Diabetes prevalence is on the increase globally and its impact on those with the condition in terms of acute and chronic complications can be profound. People with type 2 diabetes constitute the majority of those with the condition and the risk factors include obesity, lifestyle and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Poor dietary intake has been reported to influence the community of the gut microbiome. Therefore, a higher intake of dietary fibre may alter the environment in the gut and promote microbial growth and proliferation. Aim: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis which examined the effect of dietary fibre on gut microbiota in patients with type 2 diabetes. Method: This review was conducted in line with the PRISMA framework. Databases were searched for relevant articles which were screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Nine articles which met the inclusion criteria were selected for the systematic review and meta-analysis. High dietary fibre intake significantly improved (p < 0.05) the abundance of Bifidobacterium, total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and HbA1c. Discussion: The promotion of SCFA producers in terms of greater diversity and abundance by dietary fibre may have resulted in improvement in glycated haemoglobin, partly due to increased GLP–1 production. Conclusion: High consumption of dietary fibre has a significant (p < 0.05) effect on Bifidobacterium, total SCFAs and HbA1c, but not (p > 0.05) on propionic, butyric and acetic acid, fasting blood glucose and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance HOMAR–IR. Full article

Metabolic-based therapies such as nutritional ketosis have been proven effective for seizure disorders and various acute and chronic neurological pathologies. In a healthy brain, glucose is the primary metabolic fuel for cells. However, neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), seizure disorders, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are associated with impaired glucose transport and metabolism and with mitochondrial dysfunction leading to energy deficit. Therapeutic ketosis can be considered as a form of metabolic therapy by providing alternative energy substrates. In addition, ketosis leads to metabolic adaptations that improve brain metabolism, restore mitochondrial ATP production, decrease reactive oxygen species production, reduce inflammation, and increase the activity of neurotrophic factors. Moreover, the synaptic activity between neurons is also stabilized through the increase of Szent-Györgyi–Krebs cycle intermediates, antioxidant effects, increased GABA-to-glutamate ratio, and activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels. Full article

Acute high-intensity exercise can impair the immune system, and lead to oxidative stress. Cocoa intake might help in protecting against oxidative damage and impaired immune functioning. The aim of this study was to establish the effect of cocoa and cocoa fibre on the oxidative status and the immunoglobulin (Ig) production of rats following a bout of acute exercise on a treadmill. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by macrophages and the concentration of serum and mucosal Ig was assessed 16 h after the running session. Exercise increased ROS production and decreased the serum IgG concentration and the salivary gland IgM content. A cocoa fibre-enriched diet prevented the increased ROS production and the reduction in salivary IgM induced by exercise, although it decreased the IgA content in serum and the salivary glands. Overall, cocoa, by means of its fibre content, can partially prevent the alterations in ROS and Ig production induced by a single session of intensive running exercise. Full article

Citrus (mandarin and orange) pomace is an agro-food industrial waste rich in polyphenols and dietary fiber with great potential as a functional ingredient. In this work, the chemical composition and in vitro bioaccessibility of health-promoting compounds present in raw citrus pomaces (Clemenule and Ortanique mandarins and Navel and Valencia oranges) were studied. In addition, the by-products were employed as food ingredients in cookies and the effect of the food matrix on the bioaccessibility of their bioactive compounds was evaluated. Nobiletin, hesperidin/neohesperidin, tangeretin, heptamethoxyflavone, tetramethylscutellarein, and naringin/narirutin were detected in the citrus samples by UHPLC-MS. Citrus pomaces were in vitro digested mimicking the human oral gastrointestinal conditions and the bioactivity of the digests (antioxidant, carbohydrases modulation, and anti-inflammatory effects) was assessed. The bioaccessibility of the antioxidants in the by-products was confirmed by Total Polyphenol Content (TPC) (6.6–11.0 mg GAE/g digest), ABTS (65.5–97.1 µmol TE/g digest), ORAC-FL assays (135.5–214.8 µmol TE/g digest), and inhibition of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) formation induced by treatment with tert-butyl hydroperoxide 1 mM in intestinal IEC-6 (19–45%) and CCD-18Co (28–45%) cells pretreated with the digests at concentrations ranging between 5 and 25 µg/mL. Inhibitors of the enzymatic activity of α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ 3.97–11.42 mg/mL) and α-amylase (IC₅₀ 58.04–105.68 mg/mL) also remained bioaccessible after in vitro digestion of citrus pomaces. In addition, the bioaccessible compounds in orange pomace samples significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 macrophages. The digests of orange pomace cookies with the nutrition claims “no-added sugars” and “source of fiber” presented antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties, and good sensory quality (6.9–6.7 on a scale of 1 to 9). The results obtained support the feasibility of unfractionated orange pomace as a functional ingredient for reducing the risk of diabetes. The health-promoting benefits observed in the present research might be, at least partially, associated with flavonoids. Full article