Search Results (6,164)

Background/Objectives: To evaluate the metabolic and hormonal responses after meals rich in and free of ultra-processed foods (UPF), with high or low energy density (ED), in adults without obesity (body mass index [BMI] between 18.5 and 29.9 kg/m², body fat percentage ≤ 30% for men and ≤42% for women). Methods: Randomized, crossover-controlled feeding trial. Participants were assigned to four conditions (UPF+/ED+, UPF+/ED−, UPF−/ED+, and UPF−/ED−), each receiving two standardized test meals (breakfast and lunch), matched for energy, macronutrients, fiber, saturated fat, free sugar, and sodium. Blood samples were collected after 12 h fasting, and 240 min after each meal completion for quantification of glucose, insulin, triglycerides, ghrelin, and leptin. Results: Nineteen participants (9 females; 22 y mean age; 23.5 kg/m² mean BMI) were included. The UPF condition resulted in a statistically significant increase in postprandial circulating insulin concentrations throughout the day (p = 0.016), without interactions with meal (p = 0.09). No main effects of ED or UPF × ED interactions were observed for any outcome. Conclusions: In this exploratory secondary analysis of a randomized crossover trial, acute UPF consumption resulted in higher postprandial circulating insulin concentrations, independently of ED. These findings require confirmation in adequately powered studies. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC), registration number RBR-10gfr3fb. Full article

Small pelagic fishes play a crucial role in structuring marine food webs, yet their trophic flexibility and feeding interactions remain poorly understood in highly dynamic, nutrient-rich systems such as upwelling regions. This study combines bulk stable isotope analysis (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N), compound-specific nitrogen isotope analysis of amino acids (CSIA-AA), and fatty acid (FA) profiles to assess feeding patterns and trophic overlap among four planktivorous species in the North Iberian shelf (Galicia and the Cantabrian Sea). The combined trophic indicators reveal clear niche partitioning between clupeids (sardine and anchovy) and scombrids (mackerel and chub mackerel), with the latter exhibiting higher CSIA-AA-derived trophic positions and distinct FA composition. Our analysis further shows that fatty acid biomarkers are essential for resolving finer-scale differences within each group, driven by variable contributions of phytoplankton and zooplankton to species diets. Although all species shared resources within the same food web, isotopic baselines indicate a decoupling between carbon and nitrogen pathways. For sardine, we compared neutral and polar lipid fractions with the total lipid extract in terms of FA composition and key dietary markers. Our results suggest that separating lipid fractions can improve dietary resolution, especially when lipid content is low. Overall, our findings highlight the value of integrating classical and emerging biochemical tracers to better resolve trophic dynamics in coexisting planktivorous fishes. Full article

Food additives are consumed as mixtures in ultra-processed foods, but their independent contribution to glucose dysregulation is difficult to separate from diet quality and food matrix. PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and CENTRAL were searched from inception to 30 April 2026, followed by a supplementary PubMed update on 26 July 2026. This critical narrative review integrates epidemiological, human-intervention, animal, ex vivo, and mechanistic evidence. Successive NutriNet-Santé analyses associate several additive co-exposure profiles, emulsifiers, preservatives, food colouring additives, and non-nutritive sweeteners with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, these analyses use substantially overlapping participants, lack independent additive-specific cohort replication, and remain vulnerable to residual confounding. Experimental evidence is strongest for selected emulsifiers and sweeteners, which may alter gut microbiota, intestinal barrier function, inflammatory signalling, or short-term glycaemic responses. No human trial has demonstrated the complete pathway from additive exposure to clinically meaningful insulin resistance or diabetes, and null or compound-specific findings argue against a uniform class effect. Current evidence therefore supports biological plausibility, not causality or additive-specific clinical recommendations. Longer controlled feeding trials should test realistic mixtures while holding the food matrix constant and should incorporate exposure validation, repeated microbiome and metabolomic sampling, intestinal permeability measures, and validated insulin-sensitivity endpoints. Full article

This study investigated the isolation and bioactive characterization of proteins obtained from insect flours of Tenebrio molitor, Zophobas morio, and Acheta domesticus. Protein isolates were produced from defatted insect flours using a modified alkaline extraction procedure, including extraction at pH 11, isoelectric precipitation at pH 4, and an additional purification step aimed at improving protein purity and isolate quality. The obtained protein isolates were characterized in terms of chemical composition, electrophoretic profile, solubility, water- and oil-holding capacities, amino acid composition, and antioxidant activity. All isolates exhibited notable antioxidant potential in the 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assay, indicating their ability to act as natural radical-scavenging compounds. In order to further evaluate their bioactive potential, the protein isolates were subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis using Alcalase. The obtained protein hydrolysates exhibited antimicrobial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis, whereas the corresponding protein isolates showed no antimicrobial activity under the applied conditions. Among the investigated samples, Zophobas morio hydrolysate showed the highest antioxidant potential and degree of hydrolysis, whereas Acheta domesticus hydrolysate demonstrated the strongest antibacterial activity. These findings highlight the potential of edible insect-derived proteins as sustainable sources of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial ingredients for future applications in the food, feed, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Full article

Reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of dairy production remains challenging because enteric methane and upstream supply chain emissions persist despite existing mitigation strategies. This study evaluated a supply chain decarbonization approach in which Spirulina (Arthospira platensis) produced through a carbon-removal supply chain (GeoSpirulina) was incorporated into dairy rations to enable net supply chain carbon removal within cradle-to-farm-gate boundaries. A carbon-focused life cycle assessment (LCA) was combined with a commercial-scale feeding trial to determine an appropriate inclusion rate and assess production outcomes. The LCA integrated primary activity and production data from the commercial dairy farm with previously published GeoSpirulina production and soil organic carbon sequestration data derived from primary Icelandic production and field studies, supplemented by secondary background datasets and published dairy emission estimates. GeoSpirulina was produced using geothermal energy and coupled with soil organic carbon sequestration associated with the application of residual biomass as a soil biostimulant, resulting in a modeled net-negative production footprint. Under the defined LCA assumptions, supplementation with 2 g cow⁻¹ day⁻¹ of GeoSpirulina reduced the modeled milk GHG intensity from approximately 1.9 to 0.06 kg CO₂e kg⁻¹ at the farm gate. Scenario analysis identified active vitamin B₁₂ concentration as a key driver of the modeled carbon balance. Milk yield and group-level feed efficiency were unaffected, whereas butterfat (+4.7%, p = 0.002), fatty acids (+4.4%, p = 0.011), and somatic cell count (−71%, p = 0.007) improved without detectable adverse effects. These findings suggest that carbon-negative feed ingredients may provide a complementary sustainability strategy for dairy production by embedding measurable carbon removal within agricultural supply chains while maintaining production performance. Although this approach counterbalances rather than eliminates biological emissions, it may contribute to broader dairy decarbonization and sustainable food-production strategies alongside direct greenhouse gas mitigation interventions. Full article

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a highly polyphagous pest that has rapidly expanded across Africa, Asia, and Oceania, threatening food security and agricultural productivity. Reliance on synthetic insecticides for FAW management is increasingly challenged by insecticide resistance, environmental contamination, and adverse effects on non-target organisms and human health. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the potential of endophytic fungi as a sustainable strategy for FAW management. Following a systematic literature search, 59 original research articles published over the past 41 years were evaluated. These studies investigated 44 fungal species across 37 host crops, with Zea mays representing the most extensively studied system. The fungal species most frequently assessed were Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae sensu lato (s.l.), and Epichloe coenophialum. Overall, several fungal species successfully colonized plant tissues and reduced FAW performance through increased larval mortality, delayed development, and reduced feeding. These effects were associated with the production of bioactive secondary metabolites, induction of plant defense responses, and alteration of volatile organic compound emissions. Despite these promising findings, important knowledge gaps remain. Studies assessing effects on non-target organisms and natural enemies are scarce, and field validation remains limited. Research efforts are also geographically biased, with relatively few studies conducted in Africa despite the continent experiencing some of the highest FAW-related losses. Future research should prioritize field evaluations, multitrophic interaction studies, investigations in underrepresented regions, and socio-economic analyses to support farmer adoption. Addressing these gaps will be critical for determining the practical role of endophytic fungi in sustainable FAW management. Full article

With increasing meat demand and global warming, the sustainability of broiler chicken production has become a “hot topic” for the conventional industry. We conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) to compare the environmental impact of supplementing broiler chicken diets with postbiotics derived from the yeast cell wall (YCW). Supplementation with S. cerevisiae reduced the carbon footprint of climate change (8.4%), land use (8.7%), water use (7.7%), resource use (7.9%), acidification (12.5%), marine eutrophication (9.5%), freshwater eutrophication (8.6%), terrestrial eutrophication (12.6%), and particulate matter (11.4%). The positive effects on the environmental impact were associated with improvement in the feed conversion ratio (FCR: −7.6%), body weight gain (BWG: +5.7%) and a reduction in mortality of around 44.1%. Overall, the environmental benefit was similar in chickens exposed to heat stress (−8.7%) or challenged with Clostridium perfringens (−8.2%), two stressful situations commonly encountered on poultry farms. This LCA study demonstrates that S. cerevisiae is a food additive that can help the poultry industry cope with stress caused by various factors and reduce its overall environmental impact. Full article

The factors affecting vultures’ space use can be complex, but food availability is often considered the primary determinant. However, when vultures’ food resources become highly predictable, their role in movement ecology has been little studied. Conservation planning for endangered vulture species requires a comprehensive understanding of space use. In this study, we quantified several metrics that may affect the space use of Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus), a central-place forager isolated in the southeastern Balkans, which had access to substantial artificially provided food (33 tons per year) during the study period (2004–2009). Metrics examined for putative influence on ranging behavior included season, age, sex, breeding status, and artificially provided food quantity. Home range and core area sizes were larger during the breeding season and smaller during the non-breeding season. Although age, sex, and breeding status did not affect space use, we found strong evidence that artificially provided food predictability can shape the movement ecology of Cinereous Vultures. Annual home range size, core area, and seasonal overlap of the spatial parameters did not vary greatly over the years, suggesting repeatability in the species’ ranging behavior. Highly predictable artificially provided food can modify the movement ecology of necrophagous species. Yet, providing safe food is essential to preserve this endangered vulture. We suggest that feeding programs be gradually diversified to simulate natural carrion availability by using multiple small feeding sites and supplementing them unpredictably with small amounts of food. Full article

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is a major global source of protein and oil, yet its use in food and feed is constrained by antinutritional factors (ANFs) and allergenic seed proteins. To improve seed nutritional quality, we developed double mutant soybean lines (HBK-WF and HBK-PF) by crossing E16, which lacks the Kunitz trypsin inhibitors KTI-1 and KTI-3, with Lee 2, which is deficient in the α subunit of β conglycinin, a prominent allergen-associated storage protein. One- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analyses confirmed the complete absence of these target proteins in both experimental lines. The double mutants exhibited ~50% lower trypsin inhibitor activity relative to wild-type soybean. Tandem mass tag (TMT)-based proteomic analysis quantified 1034 proteins across parental and derived genotypes and revealed extensive proteomic remodeling. Seed composition profiling demonstrated substantial genotypic variation. Lee 2 displayed the highest total protein concentration (44%), while the double mutants exhibited intermediate to elevated levels (39–40%). Oil content in the double mutants (18.4–18.5%) was comparable to E16 and slightly lower than the reference cultivar Maverick. Amino acid profiling further showed that Lee 2 accumulated the highest levels of all measured amino acids, particularly sulfur-containing amino acids, whereas the double mutants displayed intermediate concentrations consistent with additive inheritance. Collectively, these results demonstrate that targeted removal of specific ANFs and an allergen-associated storage protein can improve soybean nutritional quality without compromising seed composition, providing promising germplasm for enhancing the value of soybean-derived food and feed products. Full article

Xylanases catalyze the hydrolysis of β-1,4-xylosidic linkages in xylan, a major component of plant cell walls, and are widely used in the food, feed, pulp and paper, and biofuel industries. GH11 xylanase from the hemicellulose-degrading bacterium Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum (TsaGH11) exhibits high catalytic activity, making it an attractive enzyme for industrial applications. The flexibility of the thumb domain of TsaGH11 has been investigated under cryogenic and room temperature conditions; however, the substrate recognition mechanism of TsaGH11 at the optimal temperature is unknown. To better understand the molecular mechanism of substrate recognition, the high-resolution crystal structure of TsaGH11 was determined at 1.4 Å resolution. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations at 300, 320, 340, and 360 K revealed that increasing the temperature induced fluctuations in the substrate-recognizing thumb domain. At an optimal temperature of 340 K, the substrate-binding cleft of TsaGH11 predominantly adopted a closed conformation. However, the thumb domain exhibited larger fluctuations at 340 K than at other temperatures, sampling both open and closed conformations, suggesting that substrate recognition in TsaGH11 proceeds through a conformational selection-like mechanism. At 360 K, TsaGH11 unfolded partially at a site opposite the substrate-binding cleft, providing potential targets for protein engineering to improve its thermostability for industrial applications. These findings provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of TsaGH11 and offer valuable guidance for the rational engineering of GH11 xylanases for industrial applications. Full article

Dairy production currently faces three converging challenges: the escalation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), rising global food demand, and stricter regulatory requirements for reducing enteric methane emissions. This review evaluates probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), metagenomic tools, and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-based synthetic biology for dairy cow microbiome engineering, applying a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 1–9 framework to assess the translational maturity of each strategy. The quantitative ranges below are from individual controlled or field studies unless indicated otherwise, and they represent the variation from study to study in different breeds, feeds, and stages of lactation, as well as in management systems. A systematic literature search was conducted across five major databases for the period 2020–2026. Applying the TRL framework revealed that conventional probiotics have reached field-ready maturity (TRL 7–8), boosting milk yield by 0.5–1.5 kg/d and lowering somatic cell counts by 20–40%. Calf gut maturation was found to be two to three weeks faster when FMT was used (TRL 5–6). Controlled conditions (TRL 2–3) showed a 10–20% reduction in methane emissions using engineered rumen bacteria (CRISPR). Intervention failures primarily stem from host-microbiome misalignment rather than microbial product design. The key translational gap is shifting from uniform herd-level to precision-guided individualized dosing. Standardized data infrastructure, regulatory frameworks for engineered biologics, and integration with precision livestock farming platforms are required to reduce antibiotic use and lower methane emissions within a One Health framework. Full article

In this study, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity (I) were determined in eight soybean cultivars. Assays were conducted on above-ground parts (AGP) and seeds. Peak areas (S_TIC+ and S_TIC−) of major metabolites in the total ion current (TIC) chromatogram, obtained by HPLC–MS/MS, were also calculated. TPC in AGP and seeds ranged from 5.8% to 10.8% and from 2.2% to 4.4%, respectively. TFC was 0.3–1.2% and 0.02–0.07% for AGP and seeds, respectively. The coefficient of variation of I was 42% for AGP and 45% for seeds. The highest I in AGP was observed in Khabarovskij yubilyar (56.5%) and Kobra (54.3%), while that of seeds was observed in Kobra (47.5%). A positive correlation was found in AGP between I and TPC (0.75), as well as between I and S_TIC+ (0.81). Strong significant correlations were found in seeds between I and TPC (0.90), TFC (0.83), S_TIC+ (0.78), and S_TIC− (0.87). Leaf TPC, TFC, and I of the eight cultivars showed no correlation with AGP. These findings indicate that conducting targeted studies on AGP and seeds of food and vegetable varieties can help establish sustainable breeding programs for developing functional food products and animal feed. Full article

The global poultry industry faces a major transition driven by bans on antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) and rising antimicrobial resistance threats. This has intensified the search for effective, sustainable alternatives to maintain productivity, animal health, and food safety. This review provides a comprehensive overview of next-generation probiotics (NGPs) and their evolving role in poultry production, highlighting their mechanisms of action, technological advancements, and applications for improving performance and health. Recent studies were systematically reviewed, covering conventional and NGPs, multi-omics-driven strain identification strategies, engineered microbial systems, and advanced delivery technologies. Key functional aspects, including gut microbiota modulation, immune responses, pathogen control, and productivity metrics were thoroughly assessed. NGPs exhibit enhanced capabilities over traditional probiotics, including improved gut colonization, targeted antimicrobial activity, and precise host immune modulation. Advances in synthetic biology, microencapsulation, and synbiotic formulations enhance their efficacy and stability. Additionally, NGPs also demonstrate significant potential in improving growth performance, feed conversion ratios, intestinal integrity, and enteric pathogen resistance. However, challenges such as strain-specific variability, regulatory constraints, and limited field-level validation persist. NGPs offer a promising and sustainable strategy for modern poultry production. Future integration with precision microbiome engineering, artificial intelligence, and sustainable farming will be essential to realize their full potential and ensure widespread adoption. Full article

Background: Soybean is an important crop with multiple uses for oil, food, and feed, providing 50% of the vegetable protein and 20% of the edible oil in the world. The WD40 family genes play crucial regulatory roles in growth, development, secondary metabolism, and stress responses. However, the definition of WD40 family genes in soybean remained unclear, which limited their application potential in genetic improvement. Methods: To identify soybean WD40 family members and screen candidate genes for breeding improvement, this study performed genome-wide identification of the soybean WD40 gene family via bioinformatic approaches based on the latest Williams 82 reference genome (Wm82.a6.v1). Meanwhile, the function of the family gene GmWD40-257 regulating seed quality was analyzed. Results: The results showed that a total of 458 GmWD40 genes were identified, which were distributed on the 20 chromosomes. Subcellular localization showed that most members were mainly concentrated in the nucleus, chloroplast, and cytoplasm. Phylogenetic tree analysis divided the 458 GmWD40 genes into eight groups. Synteny analysis identified 160 syntenic genes between soybean and Arabidopsis thaliana. Conserved motif analysis identified ten core motifs. The promoter regions of GmWD40 contained 19 types of cis-acting elements. Functional analysis revealed that the nonsense mutation of GmWD40-257 significantly reduced the content of oil, palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid and soluble sugar, while significantly increasing the contents of protein, γ-tocopherol and δ-tocopherol. Conclusions: A total of 458 members of the WD40 gene family were identified in soybean. Among these, GmWD40-257 was found to positively regulate the contents of soybean oil, palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid and soluble sugar, while negatively regulating the contents of soybean protein, γ-tocopherol and δ-tocopherol. Full article

Background: Evidence on adolescents’ knowledge and practices related to healthy eating and food hygiene in Kazakhstan remains limited. This study aimed to assess knowledge and behaviors associated with healthy eating and food hygiene among adolescents in Karaganda, Central Kazakhstan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 382 students aged 11–18 years from six schools. Data were collected using a bilingual questionnaire and analyzed using Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression. Results: Girls were significantly more likely than boys to demonstrate knowledge of healthy eating and food hygiene practices. According to parental reports, 61.5% of adolescents consumed fruit daily, whereas daily fast-food consumption was reported in 7.7% of boys and 7.5% of girls. Food-outsourcing company reports showed that complete meals and drinking water were available in all participating schools; however, dairy products were available in only half of the school cafeterias. Conclusions: The study identified sex- and age-related differences in adolescents’ knowledge and practices regarding healthy eating and food hygiene. The findings highlight the importance of combining nutrition education with improvements in the school food environment and greater parental involvement to promote healthier dietary behaviors among adolescents. Full article