Search Results (5,375)

In the context of modern ruminant nutrition, increasing attention is being directed toward the valorization of agro-industrial by-products as alternative feed ingredients that enhance nutrient utilization efficiency while supporting the sustainability of animal production systems. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) oilseed cake, a by-product of oil extraction, has emerged as a resource of growing interest due to its favorable nutritional profile and the presence of bioactive compounds with functional properties. This review critically analyzes recent scientific literature addressing the use of milk thistle oilseed cake in ruminant nutrition, highlighting its potential practical relevance as a functional feed ingredient. The available evidence suggests that milk thistle oilseed cake may support inclusion in ruminant diets at moderate levels; however, controlled in vivo studies remain limited, and several proposed mechanisms are inferred from studies on structurally analogous polyphenol-rich by-products rather than from milk thistle cake itself. Further research is needed before precise inclusion recommendations can be established. Special attention is given to the bioactive fraction dominated by the silymarin complex, which may interact with rumen digestive and fermentative processes, influencing nutrient utilization efficiency and oxidative stability. Overall, the findings suggest that milk thistle oilseed cake represents a promising feed resource that aligns with sustainable and efficiency-oriented feeding strategies in modern ruminant production systems. Full article

Functional foods enriched with bioactive compounds have attracted increasing attention for their potential to improve metabolic health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. White tea, a minimally processed tea rich in polyphenols and antioxidant constituents, may exert beneficial effects on obesity-related metabolic disturbances through multiple molecular pathways. In this study, we investigated the effects of white tea in a high-fat diet-induced obesity model in rats, with particular emphasis on metabolic regulation and adipokine signaling. Body weight, lipid profile, glucose homeostasis, insulin resistance-related parameters, and circulating levels of apelin and irisin were evaluated. High-fat diet feeding impaired metabolic balance and altered obesity-associated biochemical parameters, whereas white tea administration ameliorated several of these changes. White tea was associated with improvements in body weight gain and selected metabolic parameters, together with modulation of adipokine-related markers. These findings suggest that white tea may function as a bioactive-rich functional food with beneficial effects on pathways involved in obesity and metabolic homeostasis. Our results support the potential contribution of white tea-derived compounds to nutrition-based strategies for the prevention and management of obesity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Persistent gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms following oncologic treatment represent a major unmet need in survivorship care, often managed symptomatically without addressing underlying biological mechanisms. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and biological correlates of an artificial intelligence (AI)-guided, personalized microbiome modulation strategy in oncology patients with chronic secondary GI dysfunction. Methods: We conducted a prospective, single-arm, open-label validation study including 29 adult female oncology patients with persistent GI symptoms lasting ≥3 months. Participants underwent baseline multidimensional assessment integrating shotgun metagenomic sequencing, inflammatory and nutritional biomarkers, and clinical symptom profiling. An AI-guided platform generated individualized dietary, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after a 3-month intervention, focusing on intra-individual changes in stool frequency (primary endpoint), self-reported energy, microbiome composition, and metabolic biomarkers. Paired statistical analyses, correlation testing, and multivariable regression were performed. Results: After three months, stool frequency significantly decreased (4.69 ± 2.41 to 2.07 ± 1.19 episodes/day; p < 0.0001), accompanied by a marked increase in energy levels (4.00 ± 1.04 to 7.24 ± 1.12; p < 0.0001). Microbiome analysis revealed consistent enrichment of butyrate-producing and barrier-supportive taxa, including Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Eubacterium rectale, Roseburia intestinalis, Akkermansia muciniphila, and Bifidobacterium longum. Butyrate-related biomarkers and vitamin-associated parameters (B-complex, vitamin D) showed significant improvement, while lactate levels normalized. Changes in Bifidobacterium longum were independently associated with stool frequency reduction (β = −0.783, p = 0.0082). Conclusions: AI-guided personalized microbiome modulation was associated with significant clinical improvement and biologically coherent microbial and metabolic shifts in oncology patients with persistent GI symptoms. These findings support a precision supportive-care approach targeting microbiome restoration, warranting further validation in randomized controlled trials. Full article

Sparassis crispa (cauliflower mushroom) is an edible medicinal fungus known for its diverse array of bioactive metabolites. Despite its established nutritional and pharmacological relevance, its antimicrobial, antiviral, and antiparasitic activities remain insufficiently investigated. In the present study, extracts of the fruiting bodies of S. crispa were prepared using four solvents (water, 60% ethanol, methanol–acetone–water [3:1:1], and 1% acetic acid) and evaluated for their chemical composition and broad-spectrum biological activities. UHPLC-MS/MS profiling revealed distinct metabolite profiles among the extracts, including identification of nucleosides such as adenosine and methylthioadenosine. All extracts exhibited nematicidal activity against Rhabditis sp. nematodes in a dose-dependent manner, with the 60% ethanol extract being the most potent (LD₅₀ = 4.2 mg/mL). In antiviral assays, the water extract partially inhibited Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) replication, reducing infectious titers by approximately 2 log units, whereas none of the extracts showed a significant effect against Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Antibacterial testing demonstrated activity only for the 1% acetic acid extract, which inhibited several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria at minimum inhibitory concentrations of 10–20 mg/mL. No antifungal activity against Candida spp. was observed. These findings identify Sparassis crispa as a promising edible source of bioactive compounds, exhibiting pronounced nematicidal and moderate antimicrobial activities, and support its potential application in the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals. They further justify targeted isolation and mechanistic studies to characterize the metabolites responsible for these effects and to clarify their relevance for food-based health promotion. Full article

Background/Objectives: Disease-related malnutrition is highly prevalent in oncology and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Early detection through nutritional screening is essential; however, the optimal screening tool for ambulatory cancer patients remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the agreement and diagnostic performance of the malnutrition screening tool (MST) and NUTRISCORE compared with the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria in a large nationwide cohort of ambulatory cancer patients. Methods: In this multicenter, observational, cross-sectional nationwide study, adult patients attending oncology day hospitals for intravenous antineoplastic treatment between April and November 2021 were included. Nutritional risk was assessed using MST (cut-off ≥ 2) and NUTRISCORE (cut-off ≥ 5). Malnutrition was diagnosed according to GLIM criteria. Agreement between tools was assessed with Cohen’s kappa, and diagnostic performance was evaluated by sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Analyses were stratified by tumor nutritional risk and cancer stage. Results: Among 4440 patients from 86 hospitals, 50.7% met the GLIM criteria for malnutrition; 72.5% had moderate and 27.5% severe malnutrition. MST identified 37.5% of patients as being at nutritional risk, compared with 17.3% identified by NUTRISCORE. Agreement between MST and NUTRISCORE was moderate overall (κ = 0.48; 95% CI, 0.45–0.51), but varied markedly according to tumor nutritional risk, ranging from high agreement in high-risk tumors (κ = 0.82) to low agreement in low-risk tumors (κ = 0.28). Relative to GLIM, MST was more sensitive than NUTRISCORE (0.51 vs. 0.27), whereas NUTRISCORE was more specific (0.92 vs. 0.76) and had a higher positive predictive value (0.77 vs. 0.68). Negative predictive value was low for both tools. Conclusions: GLIM-defined malnutrition was highly prevalent in this large cohort of ambulatory patients with cancer. MST provided greater case detection, whereas NUTRISCORE showed a more conservative profile with higher specificity but substantially lower sensitivity. These findings suggest that the choice of screening tool should consider clinical context- and tumor-related nutritional risk, and that neither instrument alone reliably excludes malnutrition in outpatient oncology settings. Full article

The growing over-75 population has increased the demand for functional foods tailored to the nutritional needs of the elderly. Within the AURA project, an innovative oat okara sourdough was developed to produce bread with enhanced nutritional and functional properties. Breads were produced using oat okara sourdough, oat sourdough, and wheat sourdough for comparison. All samples were subjected to microbiological, physical-chemical, technological, and metabolomic analysis. In addition, bread digestibility was evaluated. The results showed that oat okara flour is an excellent fermentable substrate, yielding sourdoughs with high counts of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. The breads made with oat okara and oats were softer and brownish due to the oat presence and higher relative yeast. Moreover, oat okara bread exhibited a lower proportion of rapidly digestible starch (RDS) and a higher proportion of slowly digestible starch (SDS), suggesting potential benefits for post-prandial glycaemic control. Metabolomic profiling highlighted lipids, particularly steroidal glycosides (saponins) and fatty acyls, as discriminant metabolites in fermented samples, suggesting enhancement of bioactive compounds through sourdough fermentation. Overall, the use of oat okara in sourdough represents a sustainable approach to upcycle agro-industrial by-products while producing nutritionally valuable bakery products aligned with circular economy principles. Full article

Chrononutrition, which emphasizes the timing, frequency, and regularity of eating in alignment with circadian rhythms, has emerged as an important yet understudied determinant of obesity, particularly in children and adolescents. We aimed to compare chrononutrition and physical fitness between elementary and intermediate schoolgirls and to examine their associations with obesity. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 457 schoolgirls aged 10–14 years from elementary and intermediate schools. Chrononutrition behaviors were evaluated. Anthropometric measurements and physical fitness, including handgrip strength, standing long jump, and 20 m shuttle run, were assessed. Fasting blood glucose and lipid profile were determined using capillary blood samples. Results: Compared with intermediate students, elementary school students demonstrated more favorable meal-related behaviors, longer overnight fasting durations, and better dietary intake (p < 0.05), along with higher VO₂ max and higher standing long jump performance. Conversely, intermediate students exhibited greater absolute handgrip strength. A higher number of meals/day (aOR = 0.68, p = 0.039) and a longer interval between the last meal and bedtime (aOR = 0.78, p = 0.013) were inversely associated with obesity. Furthermore, higher HGS/BMI was associated with lower odds of obesity (aOR = 0.01, p < 0.001), while HDL cholesterol was inversely associated with obesity (aOR = 0.91, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Chrononutrition behaviors and physical fitness varied across school stages and were associated with obesity among school-aged girls. Higher meal frequency, a longer interval between the last meal and bedtime, and greater handgrip strength relative to body mass index (HGS/BMI) were associated with lower odds of obesity. Non-obese students also demonstrated higher VO₂ max. These findings suggest that chrononutrition behaviors and physical fitness may contribute to obesity prevention, underscoring the importance of early nutrition and physical activity interventions. Full article

A comparative chemical analysis was conducted between P. aibuhitensis of orange and green body colors, evaluating their proximate composition, fatty acid profile, amino acid profile, astaxanthin content, lipidomic profile, and other biochemical parameters. Samples were categorized by body color into two groups, each with ten biological replicates. The samples were collected from the same local polychaete farm. The results revealed that the green phenotype had significantly higher moisture content but lower crude protein, crude lipid, and ash content compared to the orange phenotype. The orange polychaete was characterized by significantly higher concentrations of 16:0 and saturated fatty acids (SFAs), whereas the green one exhibited higher contents of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 PUFAs) and a higher PUFA/SFA ratio. Regarding free amino acids, the orange polychaete had significantly higher threonine content, while the green ones had significantly higher levels of valine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, glutamate, alanine, histidine and proline. Additionally, the astaxanthin content was significantly higher in the orange phenotype. The bile acid level was significantly higher in the green phenotype compared to the orange one, but no significant differences were observed in other biochemical parameters such as total protein, total cholesterol, and triglyceride content. The lipidomic analysis revealed that glycerophospholipids were the most abundant lipid class in both phenotypes, followed by glycerolipids and sphingolipids. A total of 65 differentially abundant lipid molecules were identified between the two groups. Compared to the orange polychaete, the green one had higher levels of 59 lipids (predominantly ceramides) and lower levels of six lipids, including three triglycerides, one monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, and two phosphatidylserines. In general, the orange P. aibuhitensis showed a favorable nutritional profile for aquafeed and human nutrition, whereas the green ones had potential for targeted health applications owing to its specific lipid composition. However, direct validating experiments are required. Full article

Prediabetes is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for sarcopenia, driven by chronic low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance, and impaired anabolic signaling. Nutritional interventions containing whey protein, hydroxymethylbutyrate (HMB), glucosamine, and micronutrients may offer a multi-target strategy to counteract muscle deterioration. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of HiLo Platinum™ supplementation in attenuating muscle strength decline in a prediabetic rat model, with integrated analysis of metabolic biomarkers and gut microbiome profiles. A randomized preclinical trial was conducted using male Sprague Dawley rats assigned to four groups: normal diet (ND), prediabetic control induced by cholesterol- and fat-enriched diet with fructose (CFEDF), and two treatment groups receiving low-dose (0.63 g/kg BW) or high-dose (1.26 g/kg BW) HiLo Platinum™. The intervention lasted six weeks. Muscle strength was assessed via a four-limb grip strength test (reverse hang time and holding impulse). Biomarkers related to inflammation, mitochondrial function, and anabolic signaling (TNF-α, IL-10, PGC-1α, IGF-1, SIRT-1, AMPK, mTOR, and myostatin), lipid profile, and blood glucose were analyzed. Gut microbiome composition and diversity were evaluated using taxonomic profiling and multivariate analyses. HiLo Platinum™ supplementation significantly improved muscle strength, evidenced by increased reverse hang time and holding impulse (p < 0.001). Both doses reduced blood glucose and improved lipid profiles, including increased HDL and decreased LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. Anti-inflammatory effects were observed with reduced TNF-α and elevated IL-10 levels. Mitochondrial and metabolic regulators (PGC-1α, SIRT-1, AMPK) and anabolic mediators (IGF-1) were significantly upregulated, while mTOR levels decreased. Gut microbiome analysis revealed increased genus richness (Chao1 index) and distinct microbial shifts associated with improved metabolic and inflammatory markers. HiLo Platinum™ effectively mitigates prediabetes-induced muscle strength decline through integrated modulation of inflammatory pathways, mitochondrial function, metabolic homeostasis, and gut microbiome composition. These findings support its potential as a nutritional therapeutic strategy for preventing sarcopenia in prediabetic conditions, although further studies are needed to evaluate long-term effects and implications on muscle hypertrophy. Full article

Background and Objectives: Early risk stratification remains challenging in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Red cell distribution width (RDW) and serum albumin reflect systemic stress and nutritional reserve; their ratio (RDW-to-albumin ratio, RAR) may provide a simple preoperative index. We evaluated whether preoperative RAR is associated with early mortality after LVAD implantation. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of LVAD recipients (2019–2025). RAR was calculated as RDW (%) divided by albumin (g/dL) from preoperative blood tests obtained 24–48 h before surgery. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. The secondary endpoint was 90-day survival. In-hospital mortality was analyzed using logistic regression with parsimonious adjustment for INTERMACS high-risk status (profiles 1–2 vs. 3–7); penalized regression was used to reduce small-sample bias. Discrimination was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Ninety-day survival was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Forty-seven patients were included (37 survivors; 10 in-hospital deaths). Higher RAR was associated with increased odds of in-hospital mortality and remained significant after adjustment for INTERMACS high-risk status (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.04–2.90). INTERMACS high-risk status was strongly associated with in-hospital mortality (OR 17.89, 95% CI 3.19–138.07). RAR demonstrated good discrimination for in-hospital mortality (AUC 0.801, 95% CI 0.648–0.955). For 90-day survival, RAR showed a borderline association in unadjusted analysis (HR 1.28, 95% CI 0.98–1.68) and was not significant after adjustment (HR 1.20, 95% CI 0.89–1.63). Conclusions: In this small single-center cohort, preoperative RAR was independently associated with in-hospital mortality after LVAD implantation. These findings should be considered hypothesis-generating and require external validation. Full article

Traditional edible plants such as quelites are an important component of the Mexican diet due to their nutritional and functional value; however, the effects of postharvest and culinary processing on their phytochemical composition remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the impact of oven-drying and freeze-drying, as well as thermal preparation (raw vs. boiled), on the proximal chemical composition, phenolic profile, and antioxidant capacity of leaves and inflorescences of Chenopodium berlandieri subsp. nuttalliae (huauzontle), using an integrated metabolomic approach. Proximal analysis showed that major macronutrients (protein, dietary fiber, lipids, and carbohydrates) were largely preserved across drying methods, whereas moisture and ash contents differed significantly among tissues and treatments (p < 0.05). Raw freeze-dried inflorescences exhibited the highest total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. UPLC-DAD-ESI-QToF/MS enabled the identification and quantification of 26 phenolic compounds, predominantly glycosylated flavonols derived from quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin, while naringin was identified as the main flavanone glycoside present. Quercetin glucuronide was the most abundant compound, particularly in inflorescences. Multivariate analyses (principal component analysis [PCA], permutational multivariate analysis of variance [PERMANOVA], and partial least squares discriminant analysis [PLS-DA]) suggested that the drying method was a major source of variability, followed by thermal treatment and tissue type, although these patterns should be interpreted as indicative rather than conclusive. Overall, freeze-drying appeared to be the most effective method for preserving the phytochemical quality of huauzontle under the conditions evaluated, highlighting its potential as a valuable source of bioactive compounds within the genus Chenopodium. Full article

The increasing global demand for sustainable production of high-nutritional-value food and feed has emerged the need of harnessing the agro-industrial residues applying various innovative bioconversion strategies. In this context, the utilization of legume production wastes constitutes an intriguing subject because of their high content in nutritious molecules. The study herein concerns the incorporation of Fava Santorinis (Lathyrus clymenum) pericarps, an agro-industrial byproduct, into Black Soldier Fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens) larvae rearing diets to produce nutritious insect meals. Thus, four dietary treatments of BSF larvae were evaluated consisting of a commercial feed as control diet and three experimental diets incorporating 15%, 30% and 45% inclusion levels of fava bean pericarps. When BSF larvae reached their sixth instar stage, their growth performance and the nutritional content of the produced insect meal were assessed. Best results were obtained for BSF rearing with feed containing 30% and 45% pericarps, establishing the valorization of a large amount of pericarp, achieving a high growth rate and a rich protein content exceeding 30%. On the other hand, the presence of saponines was not determined, although the overall larvae performance indicates a high tolerance to their presence. Finally, the assessment of insect meals lipidic profiles revealed the prevalence of saturated lauric acid, an established potent antimicrobial agent, along with lower amounts of unsaturated Ω-6 linolenic acid and Ω-3 linoleic acid acids. The results herein demonstrate a sustainable strategy for the bioconversion of Fava Santorinis production waste to nutritious animal feed in the context of circular economy. Full article

Background/Objectives: Coffea canephora (robusta) and Coffea liberica var. dewevrei (excelsa) cultivated in the Comoros islands represent understudied coffee varieties grown in a unique volcanic terroir. Despite their agricultural significance and potential bioactive value, no comprehensive biochemical or nutritional characterization of these Comorian coffees had previously been conducted. This study therefore aimed to provide the first integrated biochemical and nutritional characterization of both varieties and to evaluate the influence of the islands’ specific edaphoclimatic conditions on their chemical composition. Methods: An integrated analytical approach was employed, combining UV-Vis spectrophotometry, HPLC, ionomics, and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy to quantify polyphenols, flavonoids, caffeine, soluble sugars, antioxidant activity, mineral profiles, and macromolecular composition of green coffee beans from both species. Results: Robusta exhibited significantly higher levels of total polyphenols (121.79 ± 2.73 mg GAE/g), total flavonoids (29.43 ± 2.20 mg QE/g), caffeine (1.52% w/w), total soluble sugars (60.47 ± 3.37 mg GE/g), and antioxidant activity (64.97 ± 6.25 mM Trolox eq/g). Conversely, excelsa demonstrated a distinct mineral profile, with significantly higher concentrations of magnesium, calcium, sodium, zinc, and copper. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed distinct vibrational fingerprints between the two species, particularly in lipid and carbohydrate signatures. Conclusions: These findings position Comorian robusta as a potent source of antioxidants and stimulants, while excelsa offers a nutritionally balanced profile with nutraceutical potential, providing a scientific basis for valorizing both varieties as high-value niche products and contributing to the preservation of coffee agro-biodiversity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity in young adults is a major public health concern and a key contributor to cardiometabolic risk. Vitamin K2 (VK2) has been proposed as a potential adjuvant therapy; however, evidence from randomized controlled trials remains limited. This study evaluated the effect of VK2 supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors in young adults with overweight or obesity. Methods: In this 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (NCT05995522), men and women aged 18–35 years with overweight or obesity (BMI 25–40 kg/m²) were assigned to receive VK2 (menaquinone-4, 100 µg/day) or placebo. Both groups received standardized nutritional counseling. Body composition, blood pressure, glucose homeostasis, lipid profile, and vitamin K-dependent proteins were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Between-group differences were analyzed using ANCOVA adjusted for baseline values. Results: Forty-six participants completed the study (placebo n = 24; VK2 n = 22). VK2 supplementation significantly reduced total cholesterol (−10.64 mg/dL, p = 0.038) and LDL cholesterol (−6.12 mg/dL, p = 0.005) compared with placebo. A reduction in systolic blood pressure showed a trend toward significance (−5.56 mm Hg, p = 0.067). No significant effects were observed on body composition, glucose metabolism, or vitamin K-dependent proteins. Conclusions: VK2 supplementation resulted in improvements in total and LDL cholesterol levels, with no significant changes in vitamin K-dependent proteins, and may represent a safe and potentially beneficial adjunct to nutritional strategies aimed at early cardiometabolic risk modulation. Full article

Microgreens are increasingly promoted as sustainable, nutrient-dense foods, yet their content of potentially harmful specialized metabolites remains poorly explored. Here, we developed and applied a reversed-phase liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry (RPLC-ESI-HRMS) method for the detection of cyanogenic glycosides (CNGs) in edible microgreens. Method optimization, performed using dhurrin and lotaustralin as model standards, showed that positive ion detection of sodium adducts provided the most informative and selective HRMS/MS response, with diagnostic fragmentation patterns suitable for CNG recognition in complex matrices. Quantitative validation for lotaustralin showed excellent linearity (R² = 0.998), low detection/quantification limits (LOD 0.16 mg/L; LOQ 0.53 mg/L), good extraction recovery, and a negligible matrix effect. Application of the method revealed a clear species-dependent profile. No detectable CNGs were found in broccoli raab and kale microgreens, supporting their safety as ready-to-eat products in this respect. In contrast, flax microgreens contained four CNGs: linamarin, lotaustralin, linustatin, and neolinustatin. Monoglycosylated species predominated, with lotaustralin quantified at 5.5 ± 0.6 mg/g dry weight and linamarin estimated at even higher levels. Diglycosylated CNGs were present at much lower concentrations and displayed multiple chromatographic peaks, consistent with the occurrence of structurally related isomeric forms. These quantitative results are specific to the flax microgreen samples analyzed here, obtained by pooling the lyophilized material obtained from several plants; thus, they do not account for biological variability among individual plants. Based on the measured CNG levels, flax microgreens showed a non-negligible cyanogenic potential. Assuming 1, 10 and 25% conversion to hydrogen cyanide, the estimated release would be, respectively, about 3, 33 and 81 mg HCN/kg of fresh flax microgreens, values lower than the current EU limit (150 mg HCN/kg of edible product) for flaxseed intended for direct consumption but comparable to values reported for other foods. These findings highlight the need to complement the nutritional evaluation of novel microgreens with targeted toxicological screening. Full article