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Dietary Biomarkers in Human Nutrition

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A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (27 August 2021) | Viewed by 43122

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Dr. Alberto Dávalos

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Laboratory of Epigenetics of Lipid Metabolism, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA)-Food, CEI UAM+CSIC, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Interests: microRNA; extracellular vesicles; non-coding RNAs; diet; epigenetic; lipid metabolism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Dear Colleagues,

Our human body is in constant exposure to a plethora of compounds through diet (nutrients, food bioactive compounds, exogenous nucleic acids, toxic compounds, micro- and nanoplastics, etc.) and through different genomic, genetic, and epigenetic mechanisms, which influence our health and disease status. Biomarkers can be used as indicators of biological state, condition or exposure to xenobiotics. The search for novel biomarkers (i.e., microbiota-related, ncRNAs, micro- and nanoplastics, and others) has long been a hurdle in the nutrition and health field, probably due to the large variability and changing of dietary pattern and lifestyle followed by free-living subjects.

The present Special Issue aims to gather the latest findings on: (i) the identification and validation of endogenous biomarkers that are modulated by diet, and (ii) exogenous biomarkers (which can be usually consumed alongside with diet) as indicators of dietary exposure with relevance to health status and/or the risk of developing diet-related diseases. Studies focusing on disease biomarkers are outside the scope of the present issue. Authors are invited to submit relevant original contributions, review articles or systematic reviews for consideration for inclusion in this Special Issue.

Dr. Alberto Dávalos
Guest Editor

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Biomarker
Circulating RNAs
Metabolomics
Microbiota
Food bioactive compounds
Metabolites
Microplastics
Nanoplastics
Exosomes
Human nutrition

Published Papers (13 papers)

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11 pages, 1275 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Epigenome-Wide Association Study of Infant Feeding and DNA Methylation in Infancy and Childhood in a Population at Increased Risk for Type 1 Diabetes

by Elizabeth Walker-Short, Teresa Buckner, Timothy Vigers, Patrick Carry, Lauren A. Vanderlinden, Fran Dong, Randi K. Johnson, Ivana V. Yang, Katerina Kechris, Marian Rewers and Jill M. Norris

Nutrients 2021, 13(11), 4057; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13114057 - 13 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2574

Abstract

We assessed associations between infant diet (e.g., breastfeeding and introduction to solid foods) and DNA methylation in infancy and childhood. We measured DNA methylation in peripheral blood collected in infancy (9–15 months of age) in 243 children; and in a subset of 50 children, we also measured methylation in childhood (6–9 years of age) to examine persistence, and at birth (in cord blood) to examine temporality. We performed multivariable linear regression of infant diet on the outcome of methylation using epigenome-wide and candidate site approaches. We identified six novel CpG sites associated with breastfeeding duration using an EWAS approach. One differentially methylated site presented directionally consistent associations with breastfeeding (cg00574958, CPT1A) in infancy and childhood but not at birth. Two differentially methylated sites in infancy (cg19693031, TXNIP; cg23307264, KHSRP) were associated with breastfeeding and were not present at birth; however, these associations did not persist into childhood. Associations between infant diet and methylation in infancy at three sites (cg22369607, AP001525.1; cg2409200, TBCD; cg27173510, PGBD5) were also present at birth, suggesting the influence of exposures other than infant diet. Infant diet exposures are associated with persistent methylation differences in CPT1A, which may be one mechanism behind infant diet’s long-term health effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Biomarkers in Human Nutrition)

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11 pages, 780 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Single-Carbon Stable Isotope Ratio Model Prediction Equation Can Estimate Self-Reported Added Sugars Intake in an Adult Population Living in Southwest Virginia

by Valisa E. Hedrick, Tanya M. Halliday, Brenda M. Davy, Jamie M. Zoellner and A. Hope Jahren

Nutrients 2021, 13(11), 3842; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13113842 - 28 Oct 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1715

Abstract

The δ¹³C value of blood is a novel proposed biomarker of added sugars (AS) intake. AS prediction equations using either a single- (δ¹³C) or dual-isotope model (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) were previously developed in an adult population with high AS intake living in southwest Virginia (reference group). The purpose of this investigation was to test the δ¹³C single- and δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N dual-isotope prediction equations for AS intake in adults with a lower mean AS intake and different demographic characteristics (test group). The blood samples for the reference (n = 257 for single-isotope, n = 115 for dual-isotope) and test groups (n = 56) were analyzed for δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values using natural abundance stable isotope mass spectrometry and were compared to reported dietary AS intake. When the δ¹³C single-isotope equation was applied to the test group, predicted AS intake was not significantly different from reported AS intake (mean difference ± standard error = −3.6 ± 5.5 g, Z = −0.55, p = 0.51). When testing the dual-isotope equation, predicted AS was different from reported AS intake (mean difference ± SEM = 13.0 ± 5.4 g, Z = −2.95, p = 0.003). δ¹³C value was able to predict AS intake using a blood sample within this population subset. The single-isotope prediction equation may be an alternative method to assess AS intake and is more objective, cost-feasible, and efficient than traditional dietary assessment methods. However, more research is needed to assess this biomarker with rigorous study designs such as controlled feeding. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Biomarkers in Human Nutrition)

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14 pages, 2049 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Indole-3-Propionic Acid, a Gut-Derived Tryptophan Metabolite, Associates with Hepatic Fibrosis

by Ratika Sehgal, Mariana Ilha, Maija Vaittinen, Dorota Kaminska, Ville Männistö, Vesa Kärjä, Marjo Tuomainen, Kati Hanhineva, Stefano Romeo, Päivi Pajukanta, Jussi Pihlajamäki and Vanessa D. de Mello

Nutrients 2021, 13(10), 3509; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13103509 - 05 Oct 2021

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4626

Abstract

Background and Aims: Gut microbiota-derived metabolites play a vital role in maintenance of human health and progression of disorders, including obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), a gut-derived tryptophan metabolite, has been recently shown to be lower in individuals with obesity and T2D. IPA’s beneficial effect on liver health has been also explored in rodent and cell models. In this study, we investigated the association of IPA with human liver histology and transcriptomics, and the potential of IPA to reduce hepatic stellate cell activation in vitro. Methods: A total of 233 subjects (72% women; age 48.3 ± 9.3 years; BMI 43.1 ± 5.4 kg/m²) undergoing bariatric surgery with detailed liver histology were included. Circulating IPA levels were measured using LC-MS and liver transcriptomics with total RNA-sequencing. LX-2 cells were used to study hepatoprotective effect of IPA in cells activated by TGF-β1. Results: Circulating IPA levels were found to be lower in individuals with liver fibrosis compared to those without fibrosis (p = 0.039 for all participants; p = 0.013 for 153 individuals without T2D). Accordingly, levels of circulating IPA associated with expression of 278 liver transcripts (p < 0.01) that were enriched for the genes regulating hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation and hepatic fibrosis signaling. Our results suggest that IPA may have hepatoprotective potential because it is able to reduce cell adhesion, cell migration and mRNA gene expression of classical markers of HSCs activation in LX-2 cells (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: The association of circulating IPA with liver fibrosis and the ability of IPA to reduce activation of LX-2 cells suggests that IPA may have a therapeutic potential. Further molecular studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms how IPA can ameliorate hepatic fibrosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Biomarkers in Human Nutrition)

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16 pages, 1153 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exercise-Induced Hyperhomocysteinemia Is Not Related to Oxidative Damage or Impaired Vascular Function in Amateur Middle-Aged Runners under Controlled Nutritional Intake

by Eduardo Iglesias-Gutiérrez, Ángela García-González, Ana Montero-Bravo, Antonio González-Medina, Judit Joglar, Cristina Tomás-Zapico, Benjamín Fernández-García, Manuel Fernández-Sanjurjo, David de Gonzalo-Calvo, Ángel Enrique Díaz-Martínez and Natalia Úbeda

Nutrients 2021, 13(9), 3033; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093033 - 30 Aug 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2268

Abstract

To determine the influence of different doses of maximal acute exercise on the kinetics of plasma homocysteine (tHcy) and its relationship with oxidative status and vascular function, nine recreational runners completed a 10 km race (10K) and a marathon (M). Blood samples were collected before (Basal), immediately post-exercise (Post0), and after 24 h (Post24). Nutritional intake was controlled at each sample point. A significant increase in tHcy was observed after both races, higher after M. Basal levels were recovered at Post24 after 10K, but remained elevated at Post 24 for M. A significant decrease in GSH/GSSG ratio was observed in Post0, especially marked after M. Furthermore, this increase in pro-oxidant status remained at Post24 only after M. Other oxidative status markers failed to confirm this exercise-induced pro-oxidant status except glutathione peroxidase activity that was lower in Post24 compared to Basal in 10K and in Post0 and Post24 in M. No statistical correlation was found between oxidative markers and tHcy. No significant changes were observed in the concentration of endothelial cell adhesion molecules (VCAM-1 and E-Selectin) and VEGF. In conclusion, tHcy increases in an exercise–dose–response fashion but is not related to endothelial dysfunction mediated by oxidative stress mechanisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Biomarkers in Human Nutrition)

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15 pages, 703 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association between the FTO SNP rs9939609 and Metabolic Syndrome in Chilean Children

by Rafael Molina-Luque, Natalia Ulloa, Manuel Romero-Saldaña, Martin Zilic, Andrea Gleisner, Fabián Lanuza and Guillermo Molina-Recio

Nutrients 2021, 13(6), 2014; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13062014 - 11 Jun 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2749

Abstract

Background: The increasing prevalence of obesity in children has raised the incidence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in this age group. Given the short- and long-term health impact of MetS, it is essential to prevent its onset by detecting its main triggers. Besides, genetic factors play an essential role in influencing which individuals within a population are most likely to develop obesity in response to a particular environment. In this regard, a common variation in the FTO gene is reproducibly associated with BMI and obesity from childhood and the genetic load has been linked to several cardiovascular risk factors, highlighting the FTO single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs9939609. Therefore, this study aimed to establish the relationship between the FTO SNP rs9939609 and MetS. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 220 children from the Biobío region (Chile). MetS diagnosis was established through the modified Cook criteria, using prevalence ratios, COR curves, and linear regressions to determine its association with MetS and its components. Results: The prevalence of MetS was significantly increased among carriers of the risk allele (A): TT, 20.2%; TA, 25.4%; AA, 44.7% (p = 0.006). Also, the presence of A was associated with altered MetS-related variables. Conclusions: The FTO SNP rs9939609 was associated with a raised prevalence of MetS among A allele carriers, and was higher in the homozygous genotype (AA). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Biomarkers in Human Nutrition)

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15 pages, 1270 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pediatric Multi-Organ Dysfunction Syndrome: Analysis by an Untargeted “Shotgun” Lipidomic Approach Reveals Low-Abundance Plasma Phospholipids and Dynamic Recovery over 8-Day Period, a Single-Center Observational Study

by Mara L. Leimanis-Laurens, Karen Ferguson, Emily Wolfrum, Brian Boville, Dominic Sanfilippo, Todd A. Lydic, Jeremy W. Prokop and Surender Rajasekaran

Nutrients 2021, 13(3), 774; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13030774 - 27 Feb 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2263

Abstract

Lipids are molecules involved in metabolism and inflammation. This study investigates the plasma lipidome for markers of severity and nutritional status in critically ill children. Children with multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) (n = 24) are analyzed at three time-points and cross-referenced to sedation controls (n = 4) for a total of N = 28. Eight of the patients with MODS, needed veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) support to survive. Blood plasma lipid profiles are quantified by nano-electrospray (nESI), direct infusion high resolution/accurate mass spectrometry (MS), and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), and compared to nutritional profiles and pediatric logistic organ dysfunction (PELOD) scores. Our results show that PELOD scores were not significantly different between MODS and ECMO cases across time-points (p = 0.66). Lipid profiling provides stratification between sedation controls and all MODS patients for total lysophosphatidylserine (lysoPS) (p-value = 0.004), total phosphatidylserine (PS) (p-value = 0.015), and total ether-linked phosphatidylethanolamine (ether-PE) (p-value = 0.03) after adjusting for sex and age. Nutrition intake over time did not correlate with changes in lipid profiles, as measured by caloric and protein intake. Lipid measurement in the intensive care environment shows dynamic changes over an 8-day pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) course, suggesting novel metabolic indicators for defining critically ill children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Biomarkers in Human Nutrition)

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12 pages, 5109 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association between Serum Vitamin B12 and Global DNA Methylation in Colorectal Cancer Patients

by Hatim Boughanem, Pablo Hernandez-Alonso, Alberto Tinahones, Nancy Babio, Jordi Salas-Salvadó, Francisco J. Tinahones and Manuel Macias-Gonzalez

Nutrients 2020, 12(11), 3567; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12113567 - 20 Nov 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3511

Abstract

Vitamin B12 has been widely related to methionine metabolism, which is an essential component for biological methylation reactions, including DNA methylation. However, the relationship between vitamin B12 and DNA methylation is still controversial. In addition, there is increasing evidence for the association between vitamin B12 and the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), although results of this association need to be assessed with caution. For this purpose, we hypothesized that serum vitamin B12 could be associated with global DNA methylation in the CRC context. To test this hypothesis, we studied the association between global DNA methylation through long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE1) in CRC patients under the 25th percentile of serum vitamin B12. We found that the high vitamin B12 group had low LINE1 methylation in both tumor area and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) than the low serum vitamin B12 group. LINE1 methylation levels were significantly lower in tumor area compared to the adjacent tumor-free area, only in the high vitamin B12 group. LINE1 methylation in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and PBMCs were correlated with tumoral, inflammatory, and insulin metabolism markers. However, the interaction between LINE1 methylation and vitamin B12 levels was associated with neoadjuvant therapy in the regression analysis only in men, suggesting a beneficial relationship. In conclusion, our results reported an inverse association between DNA methylation and vitamin B12 in the CRC context, which suggests that vitamin B12 may be implicated in an epigenetic state or mediation in CRC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Biomarkers in Human Nutrition)

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8 pages, 1022 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Organic Food Intake on Nitrogen Stable Isotopes

by Olivier L. Mantha, Maya Laxmi Patel, Régis Hankard and Arnaud De Luca

Nutrients 2020, 12(10), 2965; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12102965 - 28 Sep 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2300

Abstract

Food choices affect the isotopic composition of the body with each food item leaving its distinct isotopic imprint. The common view is that the natural abundance of the stable isotopes of nitrogen (expressed as δ¹⁵N) is higher in animals than in plants that constitute our contemporary diets. Higher δ¹⁵N is thus increasingly viewed as a biomarker for meat and fish intake. Here we show that organic compared to conventional farming increases plant δ¹⁵N to an extent that can appreciably impact the performance of δ¹⁵N as a biomarker. The error that can arise when organic plants are consumed was modelled for the entire range of proportions of plant versus animal protein intake, and accounting for various intakes of organic and conventionally grown crops. This mass balance model allows the interpretation of differences in δ¹⁵N in light of organic food consumption. Our approach shows that the relationship between δ¹⁵N and meat and fish intake is highly contextual and susceptible to variation at the population, community or group level. We recommend that fertilization practices and organic plant consumption must not be overlooked when using δ¹⁵N as a biomarker for meat and fish intake or to assess compliance to nutritional interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Biomarkers in Human Nutrition)

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15 pages, 1784 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Oxidative Stress in Rats is Modulated by Seasonal Consumption of Sweet Cherries from Different Geographical Origins: Local vs. Non-Local

by Álvaro Cruz-Carrión, Ma. Josefina Ruiz de Azua, Miquel Mulero, Anna Arola-Arnal and Manuel Suárez

Nutrients 2020, 12(9), 2854; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12092854 - 18 Sep 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3086

Abstract

Sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.) are a source of bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds, which are antioxidants that contribute to protection against oxidative stress. It is known that the composition of cherries is influenced by external conditions, such as the geographic origin of cultivation, and that biological rhythms have a significant effect on oxidative stress. Therefore, in this study, Fischer 344 rats were exposed to various photoperiods and were supplemented with Brooks sweet cherries from two different geographical origins, local (LC) and non-local (NLC), to evaluate the interaction of supplementation and biological rhythms with regard to the oxidative stress status. The results indicate that the two fruits generated specific effects and that these effects were modulated by the photoperiod. Consumption of sweet cherries in-season, independently of their origin, may promote health by preventing oxidative stress, tending to: enhance antioxidant status, decrease alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, reduce liver malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and maintain constant serum MDA values and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Biomarkers in Human Nutrition)

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15 pages, 998 KiB

Open AccessArticle

PPARGC1A Gene Promoter Methylation as a Biomarker of Insulin Secretion and Sensitivity in Response to Glucose Challenges

by José L. Santos, Bernardo J. Krause, Luis Rodrigo Cataldo, Javier Vega, Francisca Salas-Pérez, Paula Mennickent, Raúl Gallegos, Fermín I. Milagro, Pedro Prieto-Hontoria, J. Ignacio Riezu-Boj, Carolina Bravo, Albert Salas-Huetos, Ana Arpón, José E. Galgani and J. Alfredo Martínez

Nutrients 2020, 12(9), 2790; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12092790 - 11 Sep 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3498

Abstract

Methylation in CpG sites of the PPARGC1A gene (encoding PGC1-α) has been associated with adiposity, insulin secretion/sensitivity indexes and type 2 diabetes. We assessed the association between the methylation profile of the PPARGC1A gene promoter gene in leukocytes with insulin secretion/sensitivity indexes in normoglycemic women. A standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and an abbreviated version of the intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) were carried out in n = 57 Chilean nondiabetic women with measurements of plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide. Bisulfite-treated DNA from leukocytes was evaluated for methylation levels in six CpG sites of the proximal promoter of the PPARGC1A gene by pyrosequencing (positions -816, -783, -652, -617, -521 and -515). A strong correlation between the DNA methylation percentage of different CpG sites of the PPARGC1A promoter in leukocytes was found, suggesting an integrated epigenetic control of this region. We found a positive association between the methylation levels of the CpG site -783 with the insulin sensitivity Matsuda composite index (rho = 0.31; p = 0.02) derived from the OGTT. The CpG hypomethylation in the promoter position -783 of the PPARGC1A gene in leukocytes may represent a biomarker of reduced insulin sensitivity after the ingestion of glucose. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Biomarkers in Human Nutrition)

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13 pages, 1581 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Moderate Wine Consumption Reduces Faecal Water Cytotoxicity in Healthy Volunteers

by Irene Zorraquín-Peña, Dolores González de Llano, Alba Tamargo, M. Victoria Moreno-Arribas and Begoña Bartolomé

Nutrients 2020, 12(9), 2716; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12092716 - 05 Sep 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3054

Abstract

There are some studies that suggest that moderate consumption of wine, as part of a healthy and balanced diet, has a favourable effect on intestinal health. This study evaluates the effect of moderate wine consumption on faecal water (FW) cytotoxicity as a parameter of gut health. To that end, faecal samples before and after a red wine intervention study (250 mL of wine/day, 4 weeks) in healthy volunteers (n = 8) and in a parallel control group (n = 3) were collected and assayed for in vitro FW cytotoxicity. Two reference compounds, phenol and p-cresol, were used for assessing the cytotoxicity assays using two colon epithelial cell lines (HT-29 and HCT 116) and different assay conditions (FW dilution and incubation time). For the two cell lines and all assay conditions, the means of percentage cell viability were higher (lower cytotoxicity) for samples collected after the red wine intervention than for those collected before, although significant (p < 0.05) differences were only found in certain assay conditions for both cell lines. Significant positive correlations between the percentage cell viability and the contents of some faecal metabolites (short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and phenolic acids (PA)) were found for the more resistant cell line (HCT 116), suggesting that the reduction in FW cytotoxicity observed after moderate red wine consumption was related to the production of microbial-derived metabolites such as SCFA and PA, whose faecal contents have been shown to increase after wine consumption. FW cytotoxicity can be deemed as a holistic biomarker that involves diet, gut microbiota and host. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Biomarkers in Human Nutrition)

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16 pages, 1757 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biomarkers of Broccoli Consumption: Implications for Glutathione Metabolism and Liver Health

by Alicia Arredondo Eve, Xiaoji Liu, Yanling Wang, Michael J. Miller, Elizabeth H. Jeffery and Zeynep Madak-Erdogan

Nutrients 2020, 12(9), 2514; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12092514 - 20 Aug 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4986

Abstract

Diet and lifestyle choices contribute to obesity and liver disease. Broccoli, a brassica vegetable, may mitigate negative effects of both diet and lifestyle. Currently, there are no clinically relevant, established molecular biomarkers that reflect variability in human absorption of brassica bioactives, which may be the cause of variability/inconsistencies in health benefits in the human population. Here, we focused on the plasma metabolite profile and composition of the gut microbiome in rats, a relatively homogenous population in terms of gut microbiota, genetics, sex and diet, to determine if changes in the plasma metabolite profiles caused by dietary broccoli relate to molecular changes in liver. Our aim was to identify plasma indicators that reflect how liver health is impacted by dietary broccoli. Rats were fed a 10% broccoli diet for 14 days. We examined the plasma metabolite composition by metabolomics analysis using GC–MS and gut microbiota using 16S sequencing after 0, 1, 2, 4, 7, 14 days of broccoli feeding. We identified 25 plasma metabolites that changed with broccoli consumption, including metabolites associated with hepatic glutathione synthesis, and with de novo fatty acid synthesis. Glutamine, stearic acid, and S-methyl-L-cysteine (SMC) relative abundance changes correlated with changes in gut bacteria previously implicated in metabolic disease and with validated increases in expression of hepatic NAD(P)H dehydrogenase [quinone] 1 (NQO1) and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), associated with elevated hepatic glutathione synthesis. Circulating biomarkers following broccoli consumption reflect gut–liver axis health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Biomarkers in Human Nutrition)

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15 pages, 326 KiB

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Circulating microRNAs in Breast Milk and Their Potential Impact on the Infant

by Elena Carrillo-Lozano, Fernando Sebastián-Valles and Carolina Knott-Torcal

Nutrients 2020, 12(10), 3066; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12103066 - 08 Oct 2020

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 4498

Abstract

MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) are small RNA molecules that can exert regulatory functions in gene expression. MiRNAs have been identified in diverse tissues and biological fluids, both in the context of health and disease. Breastfeeding has been widely recognized for its superior nutritional benefits; however, a number of bioactive compounds have been found to transcend these well-documented nutritional contributions. Breast milk was identified as a rich source of miRNAs. There has been increasing interest about their potential ability to transfer to the offspring as well as what their specific involvement is within the benefits of breast milk in the infant. In comparison to breast milk, formula milk lacks many of the benefits of breastfeeding, which is thought to be a result of the absence of some of these bioactive compounds. In recent years, the miRNA profile of breast milk has been widely studied, along with the possible transfer mechanisms throughout the infant’s digestive tract and the role of miRNA-modulated genes and their potential protective and regulatory functions. Nonetheless, to date, the current evidence is not consistent, as many methodological limitations have been identified; hence, discrepancies exits about the biological functions of miRNAs. Further research is needed to provide thorough knowledge in this field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Biomarkers in Human Nutrition)

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