Search Results (244)

This study investigated the functional potential of Campomanesia xanthocarpa leaf and fruit infusions through phytochemical profiling, simulated gastrointestinal digestion, enzyme inhibition assays, and in vivo evaluation of glycemic markers. Leaf infusions exhibited a more diverse phenolic profile, higher total phenolic content, and greater antioxidant capacity compared to fruit infusions. Simulated digestion confirmed the bioaccessibility of key phenolic compounds, particularly glycosylated flavonoids such as quercetin-3-glucoside and kaempferol derivatives, with leaf extracts showing superior gastrointestinal stability. In vitro assays revealed a strong inhibitory activity of leaf infusions against α-amylase and β-glucosidase. In a 32-day trial with healthy dogs, the consumption of biscuits enriched with leaf infusion did not alter fasting glucose or amylase levels but resulted in a significant treatment × time interaction for serum fructosamine, indicating a delayed modulation of glycemic control, potentially associated with antioxidant or anti-glycation activity. These findings highlight the potential of C. xanthocarpa leaves as a functional ingredient in foods aimed at supporting glycemic regulation and metabolic health. Full article

A simple and fast analytical method was developed and applied to assess the effect of two forms of zinc fertilization on a pecan tree cultivar in Uruguay: fertigation and foliar application with a specially formulated fertilizer. Zinc content was determined in 36 leaf samples from two crop cycles: 2020–2021 and 2021–2022. Fresh samples were dried, ground, and sieved. Analytical determinations were performed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS, considered a standard method) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDXRF, the proposed method). In the first case, sample preparation was carried out by microwave-assisted digestion using 4.5 mol L⁻¹ HNO₃. In the second case, pellets (Φ 13 mm, 2–3 mm thick) were prepared by direct mechanical pressing. Figures of merit of both methodologies were adequate for the purpose of zinc monitoring. The results obtained from both methodologies were statistically compared and found to be equivalent (95% confidence level). Based on the principles of Green Analytical Chemistry, both procedures were evaluated using the Analytical Greenness Metric Approach (AGREE and AGREEprep) tools. It was concluded that EDXRF was notably greener than FAAS and can be postulated as an alternative to the standard method. The information emerging from the analyses aided decision-making at the agronomic level. Full article

This study used integrated in vitro and in vivo approaches to investigate how the starch source (glutinous rice, indica rice, maize, or high-amylose rice) influences starch digestion kinetics and, consequently, the apparent nutrient utilization and amino acid metabolism in goslings. Four diets were formulated using glutinous rice, indica rice, maize, and high-amylose rice, and in vitro digestion and animal experiments were carried out. The data showed the particle sizes of the four starches: glutinous rice ≈ indica rice < corn < amylose. The glutinous rice starch grain is a porous polyhedron with an angular surface, the corn starch grain is an ellipsoid with a smooth surface, the indica rice starch grain is a polyhedron with a smooth and compact surface, and the high-amylose starch grain is an irregular polyhedron with a smooth surface. Starch digestibility was relatively stable for the indica and corn-based diets, and starch digestibility was higher for the indica rice diet compared to the corn- and high-amylose starch-based diets. The utilization of Asp, Ser, Glu, Gly, and Phe was higher for the glutinous rice diet compared to the maize and high-amylose diets. Furthermore, with this diet, the availability of Thr and Ala was observed to be higher than with the indica rice and high-amylose diets. In conclusion, the particle size and structure of starch from different sources (glutinous rice, indica rice, corn, and high-amylose rice) were different, significantly affecting the starch digestion rate. The glutinous rice diet enables a fast digestion rate for starch, which is rapidly digested in the proximal intestine. The inadequate supply of glucose in the distal intestine enhances the oxidative energy supply from dietary amino acids in that region, thereby improving the apparent digestibility of both starch and crude protein. Full article

By-products from winemaking, such as grape pomace, grape seeds, grape skins, or extracts made from them, represent a cost-effective and sustainable bioresource. These by-products are a source of polyphenolic compounds, plant fibers and—in the case of seeds—essential fatty acids with various health-promoting effects for livestock. Numerous studies involving fast-growing broiler breeds—which often suffer from metabolic inflammation and oxidative stress due to disproportionate breast muscle growth leading to issues like cardiorespiratory insufficiency—indicate that supplementing feed with grape by-products improves performance, particularly weight gain and feed efficiency. This literature review demonstrates that the performance-enhancing effects of grape by-products in fast-growing broiler breeds can be attributed to various mechanisms such as improved nutrient digestibility, a positive influence on intestinal morphology and integrity, the favorable modulation of the microbial community in the gut, the inhibition of oxidative stress or the enhancement of the antioxidant defense system, and the stimulation of the immune response. Full article

Previous reports indicated that self-assembling amphipathic peptide S1v1 (AEAEAHAH)₂ significantly enhances the soluble expression, thermostability, and activity of the target proteins when fused to them. In order to obtain high-efficiency enzymes for the large-scale degradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), this multifunctional peptide was fused to the N- and C-terminus of FAST-PETase, a variant of Ideonella sakaiensis PETase (IsPETase), with a PT-linker (TTVTTPQTS) harbored between the target protein and the multifunctional peptide. Consistent with previous reports, S1v1 increased the solubility of FAST-PETase slightly. Moreover, it increased the activity of FAST-PETase dramatically. The amount of terephthalic acid (TPA) and mono(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalic acid (MHET) released from PET substrate after 24 h of digestion at 50°C by fusion enzymes bearing N- and C-terminal S1v1 tag was approximately 2.9- and 4.6-fold that of FAST-PETase, respectively. Furthermore, the optimal temperature and thermostability of the fusion proteins increased in comparison with FAST-PETase. The present study provides a novel strategy to improve the depolymerization efficiency of FAST-PETase. Full article

It is important to determine whether amino acid (AA) digestibility values from individual ingredients are additive and predictive for mixed diets. This study had two objectives: (1) measure the AA concentrations and digestibilities of individual protein ingredients and their mixtures and (2) determine whether the AA digestibilities of the individual ingredients were additive in their mixtures. Forty-two cecectomized roosters were randomly allotted to one of seven ingredients: dehydrated egg (EGG); pea protein (PP); corn-gluten meal (CGM); a mixture of PP and EGG at a 25:75 ratio (PP25); a mixture of PP and EGG at a 75:25 ratio (PP75); a mixture of CGM and EGG at a 25:75 ratio (CGM25); and a mixture of CGM and EGG at a 75:25 ratio (CGM75). Endogenous loss corrections were made using five fasted additional cecectomized roosters. All ingredients had indispensable AA digestibilities >85% except histidine for CGM. Amino acid digestibilities were typically the highest for EGG, PP25, and CGM25. There were no differences between measured and predicted AA digestibility values, except for histidine and serine in CGM25 (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that all protein-based ingredients tested were highly digestible and that the AA digestibilities obtained from individual ingredients are additive in ingredient mixtures when using the precision-fed cecectomized rooster model. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity during pregnancy is strongly related to increased insulin resistance, and subsequent development of metabolic syndrome-like disorders, such as glucose intolerance, pre-eclampsia, as well as preterm birth, and cesarean delivery. Nutrition can influence the evolution of glycemic response and may help improve adverse pregnancy outcomes and long-term complications. The main objective of the Nutritional Intervention during Gestation and Offspring Health (NIGOHealth) randomized clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02285764) was to investigate the potential effects of a low glycemic index/slow digesting (LGI/SD) carbohydrate product on maternal glycemia (glucose AUC at 27⁺⁰–28⁺⁶ weeks; maternal fasting blood glucose (MFBG) at 34⁺⁰–36⁺⁰ weeks), and neonatal body composition. Methods: Obese pregnant women were randomized: 230 in the intervention group (IG), who consumed two servings of an LGI/SD study product daily from 15 weeks of pregnancy until delivery, and 102 participants in the Standard of Care (SOC) group. Results: When analyzing baseline characteristics, significant differences were found in glucose metabolic parameters with higher values for IG than for the SOC group, compromising the group’s comparability. Despite this, a statistical analysis was conducted (intention-to-treat analysis/evaluable cohort): no differences were detected regarding maternal blood glucose AUC at 27⁺⁰–28⁺⁶ weeks, nor for MFBG at 34⁺⁰–36⁺⁰ weeks. Nonetheless, HbA1c (%) at 34⁺⁰–36⁺⁰ weeks was significantly lower in the IG vs. the SOC group (5.26 ± 0.03, 5.31 ± 0.04, p = 0.007) after adjusting for baseline conditions. Conclusion: This result might suggest a potential effect of the intervention on Evaluable participants. However, it should be taken with caution, due to the limitations of the study. More RCTs should be carried out to explore the effects of LGI/SD products on glycemic response in obese pregnant women. Full article

Dietary nutrient digestion and utilization patterns influence pig performance and intestinal health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of protein digestion and fiber fermentation speed among different feed ingredients on growth performance and fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations in weaned pigs. A total of 192 weaned pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire [6.87 ± 0.14 kg]) were selected and randomly divided into four dietary groups: fast-digesting protein with fast-fermenting fiber, fast-digesting protein with slow-fermenting fiber, slow-digesting protein with fast-fermenting fiber, and slow-digesting protein with slow-fermenting fiber. The results showed that cottonseed and wheat protein powders exhibited faster protein digestion than potato protein powder (p < 0.05). In vitro microbial fermentation of hawthorn powder and orange pomace resulted in greater and faster gas production and SCFA concentrations than sugarcane bagasse (p < 0.05). Orange pomace increased the abundance of Klebsiella and Escherichia–Shigella, whereas sugarcane bagasse increased the abundance of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and norank_f__Muribaculaceae. In addition, the fast-fermentation fiber tended to increase the daily weight gain and feed intake of piglets (p < 0.10), and the slow-fermentation fiber significantly reduced diarrhea incidence in pigs (p < 0.05). Fast fermentation increased acetate and valerate concentrations, and slow-digestion protein increased branched-chain SCFA and valerate contents (p < 0.05). In conclusion, there were large variations in protein digestion and fiber fermentation speed among the different common feed ingredients. Dietary protein digestion and fiber fermentation speed would affect growth performance and diarrhea incidence in weaned pigs. Full article

Starch is one of the leading nutritional carbohydrates in the human diet; its characteristics, such as digestion rate, depend on molecular structure, and in particular, the molecular composition, type and length of amylopectin chains, which are known to present a parabolic behavior with respect to digestion rate. Amylopectin with a higher density of small branches (Chains A) and those abundant in long chains (B2/B3) often present a marked resistance to digestion and could be a challenge in bread production since both fermentation and digestion could be further modulated in the presence of hydrocolloids or gluten. The objective of this work was to analyze different mixtures of starches (rice, potato, and corn) with hydrocolloids (guar and xanthan gum) and vital gluten to understand the relationship between chain length and molecular characteristics with respect to speed of digestion and glycemic index, and their incorporation into a bread loaf at 50 and 100% wheat flour substitution. A Plackett–Burman design was used to design the mixtures. Mixtures were characterized in terms of amylose/amylopectin content, fast, slow, and resistant (SDS, RS) starch digestion fractions, in vitro glycemic index, molecular weight (Mw), radius of gyration (Rz) of amylopectin, chain length distribution, and textural analysis. In the bread, a tendency to increase the SDS was observed when the mixtures included rice or potato, which can be related to the relationship between Mw and size and the prevalence of B2 and B3 chains. The Rz and RS content were related to average chain size and amylose content. The use of vital gluten was a determinant in achieving volume and textural characteristics in the final products and significantly affected the proportions of SDS and RS. By combining the molecular characteristics of starch with hydrocolloids, we can obtain food ingredients for specific applications, such as gluten-free products. Full article

Background: Camel milk is considered to be an important source of bioactive peptides with potential anti-diabetic effects. However, the mechanism by which these active peptides exert their anti-diabetic effects is not clear. The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the in vivo anti-diabetic effects of Leucine-Leucine-Proline-Lysine (LLPK), a novel dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitory peptide identified from the in vitro gastrointestinal digestion product of camel milk. Methods: A db/db diabetic mouse model was used, and LLPK was administered to mice at doses of 50 mg/kg BW and 100 mg/kg BW as a daily oral gavage for 30 days. The effects of LLPK on fasting blood glucose (FBG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), insulin tolerance test (ITT), and serum lipid levels were monitored, and possible mechanisms of action were elucidated using proteomics. Results: The results demonstrated that LLPK significantly improved diabetic symptoms, including FBG, OGTT, ITT, and serum lipid levels in db/db diabetic mice. Furthermore, significantly increased levels of serum glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and reduced serum DPP-4 activity were observed in the LLPK-treated group compared to the control group. Hepatic proteomics indicated that LLPK improved glucose and lipid metabolism via the PPAR signaling pathway, where the key targets were Scd1, Acox1, Acaa1b, Slc27a1, Acsl1, and Ehhadh. Conclusions: In summary, this study provided new insights into the anti-diabetic mechanisms of camel milk and supported the development of camel milk-based anti-diabetic functional foods or nutraceuticals. Full article

This study aimed to assess the nutritional value of whole corn germ (WCG) in the diet of chickens. Amino acid digestibility, fatty acid digestibility, and metabolizable energy were evaluated. A metabolism assay was conducted using the precise feeding method on roosters. A completely randomized design was used, with two treatments and ten replications per rooster in each experimental unit. The treatments were as follows: WCG1, precise feeding with WCG; and WCG2, fasting birds to determine metabolic and endogenous losses in energy and fat. The variables analyzed were coefficients for amino acids in corn germ meal and fatty acid digestibility. The results showed that the standardized digestibility coefficients for amino acids in corn germ meal were (in g/kg) as follows: Lys, 920; Thr, 780; Met + Cys, 800; Arg, 910; His, 890; Ile, 950; Leu, 970; Phe + Tyr, 870; Val, 980; Gly + Ser, 740; Ala, 960; Asp, 870; and Glu, 930. The average fatty acid digestibility and AMEn were 850 g/kg and 4934 kcal/kg, respectively. Corn germ meal, which showed high digestibility of nutrients and energy, is considered an interesting ingredient for diets requiring high energy concentration. Full article

Highland barley is a low-glycemic-index grain, and its slow-digesting starch can help delay or prevent the onset and progression of type Ⅱ diabetes. Peeling processes can alter the composition of highland barley, potentially changing its digestive properties. This study explored how changes in nutritional components due to different peeling times (zero, one, two, and three times) affected the digestion and absorption of barley during the gastric and intestinal phases and the utilization of undigested substrates at the distal end of the digestive tract, as well as their impact on fasting blood glucose regulation. The findings indicated that highland barley with fewer peeling times, which retained its outer layer that is rich in dietary fiber, protein, and polyphenols, delayed starch digestion and exhibited better hypoglycemic effects. Compared to unpeeled highland barley, the starch digestion rates of highland barley with one, two, and three peeling times increased by 2.82%, 18.62%, and 26.43% (p < 0.05). Based on microstructure, at the same enzymatic digestion time, starch with fewer peeling times retained a more intact granule structure. In mice with dysregulated glucose and lipid metabolism induced by the HFD/STZ method, highland barley with fewer peeling times exhibited a stronger hypoglycemic effect (6.13 mmol/L and 6.07 mmol/L). Additionally, the highland barley dietary intervention improved the gut microbiota composition in these mice, restoring the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio balance and enriching various probiotics, such as Akkermansia and Lactobacillus. Furthermore, this effect was inversely proportional to the number of peeling times. Full article

Ultra-low frequency oscillation has been regarded as a typical instability issue in power systems consisting of hydro turbine synchronous generators due to the water hammer phenomenon. However, the increasing installation of renewable power generators gradually changes the stability mechanisms within multiple frequency bands. In this digest, a new kind of ultra-low frequency oscillation caused by doubly-fed induction generators (DFIGs) equipped with a df/dt controller in a thermal power generation system is introduced. To reveal the underlying mechanism, the motion equation model of the DFIG is constructed, and the simplified analytical model is proposed. The results show that when integrating a df/dt-controlled DFIG into a normal three-machine, nine-bus system, the damping ratio decreases to more than 0.2 when the virtual inertia parameter increases from 5 to 20, leading to a conflict between fast virtual inertial response and stability requirements. Other controllers related to active power regulation are also vital to stability. The frequency domain characteristics of the system are studied to illustrate the influence of key parameters on system stability. Finally, simulation verifications are conducted in MATLAB/Simulink. Full article

Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) produced by members of the intestinal microbiota can not only contribute to digestion but also mediate microbe–host cell communication via the transfer of functional biomolecules to mammalian host cells. An unresolved question is which host factors and conditions influence BEV cargo and how they impact host cell function. To address this question, we analysed and compared the proteomes of BEVs released by the major human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (Bt) in vivo in fed versus fasted animals using nano-liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MSMS). Among the proteins whose abundance was negatively affected by fasting, nine of ten proteins of the serine protease family, including the regulatory protein dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4), were significantly decreased in BEVs produced in the GITs of fasted animals. Strikingly, in extracellular vesicles produced by the intestinal epithelia of the same fasted mice, the proteins with the most increased abundance were serine protease inhibitors (serpins). Together, these findings suggest a dynamic interaction between GI bacteria and the host. Additionally, they indicate a regulatory role for the host in determining the balance between bacterial serine proteases and host serpins exported in bacterial and host extracellular vesicles. Full article

The gastrointestinal microbiota of medicinal leeches is particularly interesting due to their blood-feeding habits, increasing medical use, and risk of pathogen transmission. Three groups of Hirudo verbana were used to study the leech microbiota: farmed leeches fasting for a long time, farmed leeches recently fed with bovine blood, and wild specimens fed with amphibian blood. The microbiota of the leeches’ mouth, pharynx, crop, and intestine was analyzed. Metasequencing analyses were performed using amplification of the 16S rRNA V3-V4 region on a NovaSeq Illumina platform. The relative abundance of bacterial microbiota included environmental bacteria from the families Rhizobiaceae, Comamonadaceae, Sphingobacteriaceae, Phreatobacteraceae, Myxococcaceae, Chitinophagaceae, Rhodospirillaceae, and Bdellovibrionaceae, as well as symbiotic/probiotic bacteria such as Mucinivorans, Aeromonas, Vagococcus, Lactobacillales, and Morganella. Significant differences were found in the different regions of the digestive system among the three groups of leeches, and environmental bacteria were present in all groups to varying degrees. A negative correlation was found between the dominant environmental and the symbiotic/probiotic bacteria. In contrast, a positive correlation was found between environmental and symbiotic/probiotic bacteria, indicating their association with host factors. Microbiota diversity, abundance, and bacterial correlations may be influenced by factors such as the leech’s fasting state, blood meal source, and environmental conditions. The identified opportunistic pathogens, such as Rickettsia, Anaplasma, and Treponema, identified for the first time in H. verbana, should be taken into consideration when using this leech in hirudotherapy. Our results show that extensive screening for opportunistic and pathogenic agents should be performed on leeches intended for medical use. Long-fasting leeches and leeches cultured in specialized farms are recommended for hirudotherapy. Full article