Search Results (34)

Background: Older people are more susceptible to deterioration of the gut microbiota. Prebiotics help improve the gut microbiota. Inulin, a major prebiotic, stimulates the growth of Bifidobacterium; however, it produces a large amount of gas, which leads to abdominal symptoms. Methods: In this study, in vitro fecal fermentation was performed using fecal samples from seven older people (mean subject age, 73.4 years; five men and two women) to examine whether combining inulin with another prebiotic material, resistant dextrin, could lead to decreased gas production and show prebiotic effects. Results: The Bifidobacterium counts and short-chain fatty acid production did not differ significantly between the inulin 0.5% group and the inulin 0.25% plus resistant dextrin 0.25% combination group. However, the inulin 0.25% plus resistant dextrin 0.25% combination group had lower gas production than the inulin 0.5% group (p < 0.10). Furthermore, compared with the inulin 0.5% group, the 0.25% combination group showed significantly greater gut microbiota diversity and tended toward a lower pH in the fermentation medium at the end of fermentation (p = 0.09). These effects are believed to be due to the combination of inulin, which is highly selective for Bifidobacterium and rapidly utilized by the gut microbiota, and resistant dextrin, which is slowly utilized by various bacterial genera. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the inulin plus resistant dextrin combination has superior prebiotic effects in older people and causes less gas production than inulin alone. Full article

Background/Objectives: Schisandra chinensis Fructus (SCF) is a traditional medicinal herb containing lignans that improves glucose metabolism by mitigating insulin resistance. We aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential and action mechanism of SCF for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) using a network pharmacology analysis, followed by experimental validation in an AD rat model. Methods: The biological activities of SCF’s bioactive compounds were assessed through a network pharmacology analysis. An AD rat model was generated by infusing amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) (25–35) into the hippocampus to induce Aβ accumulation. The AD rats were fed either 0.5% dextrin (AD-Con) or 0.5% SCF (AD-SCF group) in a high-fat diet for seven weeks. The rats in the normal/control group received an Aβ (35–25) infusion (no Aβ deposition) and were fed a control diet (Normal-C). Aβ deposition, memory function, inflammation, and glucose/lipid metabolism were evaluated. Results: The network analysis revealed significant intersections between AD-related targets and bioactive SCF compounds, like gomisin A, schisandrin, and longikaurin A. Key AD genes prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase-2 (PTGS2, cyclooxygenase-2) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were linked to SCF compounds. In the rats with AD induced by bilaterally infusing amyloid-β (25–35) into the hippocampus, the 0.5% SCF intake mitigated hippocampal amyloid-β deposition, neuroinflammation, memory deficits, and dysregulated glucose and lipid metabolism versus the AD controls. SCF reduced hippocampal AChE activity, inflammatory cytokine expression related to PTGS2, and malondialdehyde contents and preserved neuronal cell survival-related factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor and ciliary neurotrophic factor similar to normal rats. The neuroprotective effects validated the network analysis findings. Conclusions: SCF could be a potential AD therapeutic agent by activating the parasympathetic nervous system to reduce hippocampal oxidative stress and inflammation, warranting further clinical investigations of its efficacy. Full article

The dextrinization of potato starch was performed using a sophisticated single-mode microwave reactor with temperature and pressure control using 10 cycles of heating with stirring between cycles. Microwave power from 150 to 250 W, a cycle time from 15 to 25 s, and two types of vessels with different internal diameters (12 and 24 mm) and therefore different thicknesses of the heated starch layer were used in order to estimate the impact of vessel size used for microwave dextrinization. The characteristics of resistant dextrins (RD) including solubility in water, total dietary fiber (TDF) content, color parameters, the share of various glycosidic bonds, and pasting and rheological properties were carried out. The applied conditions allowed us to obtain RDs with water solubility up to 74% at 20 °C, as well as TDF content up to 47%, with a predominance of low-molecular-weight soluble fiber fraction, with increased content of non-starch glycosidic bonds, negligible viscosity, and a slightly beige color. The geometry of the reaction vessel influenced the properties of dextrins obtained under the same heating power, time, and repetition amounts. Among the conditions used, the most favorable conditions were heating 10 times for 20 s at 200 W in a 10 mL vessel and the least favorable were 15 s cycles. Full article

Clavulanic acid is a potent β-lactamase inhibitor produced by Streptomyces clavuligerus, widely used in combination with β-lactam antibiotics to combat antimicrobial resistance. This systematic review analyzes the most successful methodologies for clavulanic acid overproduction, focusing on the highest yields reported in bench-scale and bioreactor-scale fermentations. Studies have demonstrated that glycerol is the preferred carbon source for clavulanic acid production over other sources like starch and dextrins. The optimization of feeding strategies, especially in fed-batch operations, has improved glycerol utilization and extended the clavulanic acid production phase. Organic nitrogen sources, particularly soybean protein isolates and amino acid supplements such as L-arginine, L-threonine, and L-glutamate, have been proven effective at increasing CA yields both in batch and fed-batch cultures, especially when balanced with appropriate carbon sources. Strain engineering approaches, including mutagenesis and targeted genetic modifications, have allowed for the obtainment of overproducer S. clavuligerus strains. Specifically, engineering efforts that overexpress key regulatory genes such as ccaR and claR, or that disrupt competing pathways, redirect the metabolic flux towards CA biosynthesis, leading to high clavulanic acid titers. The fed-batch operation at the bioreactor scale emerges as the most feasible alternative for prolonged clavulanic acid production with both wild-type and mutant strains, allowing for the attainment of high titers during cultivations. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by impaired insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling in the hippocampus. Zeaxanthin and lutein, known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, have been reported to protect against brain damage and cognitive decline. However, their mechanisms related to insulin signaling in AD remain unclear. This study investigated the efficacy and mechanisms of zeaxanthin, lutein, and resveratrol in modulating an AD-like pathology in an amyloid-β rat model. Rats were administered hippocampal infusions of 3.6 nmol/day amyloid-β (Aβ)(25-35) for 14 days to induce AD-like memory deficits (AD-CON). Normal control rats received Aβ(35-25) (Normal-CON). All rats had a high-fat diet. Daily, AD rats consumed 200 mg/kg body weight of zeaxanthin (AD-ZXT), lutein (AD-LTN), and resveratrol (AD-RVT; positive-control) or resistant dextrin as a placebo (AD-CON) for eight weeks. The AD-CON rats exhibited a higher Aβ deposition, attenuated hippocampal insulin signaling (reduced phosphorylation of protein kinase B [pAkt] and glycogen synthase kinase-3β [pGSK-3β]), increased neuroinflammation, elevated acetylcholinesterase activity, and memory deficits compared to the Normal-CON group. They also showed systemic insulin resistance and high hepatic glucose output. Zeaxanthin and lutein prevented memory impairment more effectively than the positive-control resveratrol by suppressing acetylcholinesterase activity, lipid peroxidation, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β). They also potentiated hippocampal insulin signaling and increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CTNF) mRNA expression to levels comparable to the Normal-CON rats. Additionally, zeaxanthin and lutein improved glucose disposal, reduced hepatic glucose output, and normalized insulin secretion patterns. In conclusion, zeaxanthin and lutein supplementation at doses equivalent to 1.5–2.0 g daily in humans may have practical implications for preventing or slowing human AD progression by reducing neuroinflammation and maintaining systemic and central glucose homeostasis, showing promise even when compared to the established neuroprotective compound resveratrol. However, further clinical trials are needed to evaluate their efficacy and safety in human populations. Full article

Developing modified dietary fibers that maintain prebiotic benefits without significantly affecting meal taste is of high importance in the midst of the obesity pandemic. These benefits include regulating the composition of gut microbiota, increasing feelings of fullness, and improving human metabolic parameters. This study investigated the use of a resistant dextrin (RD) derived from potato starch, which possesses prebiotic properties, as a potential additive in vegetable–fruit preparations that aid weight loss and improve health markers in overweight children. HPLC was employed to examine metabolites like lactic acid, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs; formic, acetic, propionic, butyric, and valeric acids), and branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs; isobutyric and isovaleric acids). The activities of α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase, α-galactosidase, β-galactosidase, and β-glucuronidase enzymes in fecal samples were measured using spectrophotometric analysis at a wavelength of 400 nm. Incorporating the RD into vegetable–fruit preparations yielded favorable outcomes in terms of increased concentrations of the tested metabolites (SCFAs and BCFAs) and enhanced fecal enzyme activities after 6 months of consuming the preparations. Furthermore, these effects were found to last for an extended period of 3 months even after discontinuing the treatment. The study has shown that including RD into vegetable–fruit preparations enhances the metabolic parameters of obese and overweight children, hence providing a strong rationale for the widespread usage of these preparations in the industry. Full article

Background and Objectives: Positive impacts of sugar-free chewing-gum (SFCG) were largely described in the literature. In addition to the increase in salivary flow and the mechanic effect of CG, their main ingredient, i.e., polyols, can also have some specific benefits on oral health on their own. Some have been shown to have a bacteriostatic effect on acid-producing bacteria, and others have been shown to be particularly active on dental plaque early colonizers, resulting in both a reduction in dental caries prevalence or a decrease in gums inflammation. Here, we aimed to demonstrate these positive effects using the tablet vector only composed of compressed polyols. Methods: We used a customized inversed pH-telemetry test that is often used to demonstrate the “safe for teeth” characteristics of a food product. This inversed pH-telemetry test was designed to evaluate the potential of a food product to counteract the dental plaque drop in pH following a sucrose challenge, according to the regulatory advised test. It was performed on five healthy volunteers that grew 5-day dental plaque over a micro electrode to measure their pH in situ. Three different tablets were tested: 100% maltitol versus 100% sorbitol versus control tablets (70% starch + 30% resistant dextrin). Results: For each tablet, a neutralization score was calculated as the difference in the pH values (pH values at the end of the consumption of the respective tablets—pH value just before consumption of the tablets). Positive values indicate a neutralization (increase in pH during the consumption of the product), meaning that the neutralization with maltitol tablets was the greatest among tested tablets (p = 0.003 vs. control). Sorbitol tablets also had a significant impact (p = 0.01 vs. control). Discussion/Conclusions: This inversed pH-telemetry was designed to show a neutralizing effect of polyol tablets as it has been conducted with sugar-free chewing-gums. We demonstrated here that tablets were also able to counteract the dental plaque pH drop induced by a sucrose challenge, showing clearly that tablets should also be considered as oral health beneficial products. Consequently, the consumption of polyols in various vectors should be regulatory, as is recommended for SFCG. Full article

It has long been known that starch as a raw material is of strategic importance for meeting primarily the nutritional needs of people around the world. Year by year, the demand not only for traditional but also for functional food based on starch and its derivatives is growing. Problems with the availability of petrochemical raw materials, as well as environmental problems with the recycling of post-production waste, make non-food industries also increasingly interested in this biopolymer. Its supporters will point out countless advantages such as wide availability, renewability, and biodegradability. Opponents, in turn, will argue that they will not balance the problems with its processing and storage and poor functional properties. Hence, the race to find new methods to improve starch properties towards multifunctionality is still ongoing. For these reasons, in the presented review, referring to the structure and physicochemical properties of starch, attempts were made to highlight not only the current limitations in its processing but also new possibilities. Attention was paid to progress in the non-selective and selective functionalization of starch to obtain materials with the greatest application potential in the food (resistant starch, dextrins, and maltodextrins) and/or in the non-food industries (hydrophobic and oxidized starch). Full article

Currently, dietary fibre intake is low, which is one of the reasons for the global obesity epidemic and other metabolic disorders. Dietary fibre has many documented health-promoting properties, such as a prebiotic effect, inducing feelings of satiety and reducing postprandial glucose. Therefore, there is an increasing interest in the search for new products rich in dietary fibre. One of the sources of dietary fibre may be resistant dextrins obtained as a result of dextrinization of starch. In this study, soluble dextrin fibre (SDexF) was prepared by heating potato starch in the presence of hydrochloric and citric acids on a semi-industrial scale in the prototype dextriniser. The aim of the study was the optimisation of the preparation of SDexF on a semi-industrial scale and the physicochemical characterisation of the obtained product. Also, the molecular structure of the prepared product was analysed by using SEM and FTIR. The semi-industrial production of SDexF was successfully implemented, achieving approximately 100 times higher product quantities in one process cycle. SDexF was characterised by over 30% total dietary fibre (TDF) content, almost 100% water solubility, low viscosity and no retrogradation tendency. The physicochemical and functional properties of the obtained product indicate the possibility of implementing SDexF to enrich food products. Full article

Systemic chronic inflammation is recognized as a significant contributor to the development of obesity-related insulin resistance. Previous studies have revealed the physiological benefits of resistant dextrin (RD), including obesity reduction, lower fasting glucose levels, and anti-inflammation. The present study investigated the effects of RD intervention on insulin resistance (IR) in Kunming mice, expounding the mechanisms through the gut microbiome and transcriptome of white adipose. In this eight-week study, we investigated changes in tissue weight, glucose–lipid metabolism levels, serum inflammation levels, and lesions of epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) evaluated via Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining. Moreover, we analyzed the gut microbiota composition and transcriptome of eWAT to assess the potential protective effects of RD intervention. Compared with a high-fat, high-sugar diet (HFHSD) group, the RD intervention significantly enhanced glucose homeostasis (e.g., AUC-OGTT, HOMA-IR, p < 0.001), and reduced lipid metabolism (e.g., TG, LDL-C, p < 0.001) and serum inflammation levels (e.g., IL-1β, IL-6, p < 0.001). The RD intervention also led to changes in the gut microbiota composition, with an increase in the abundance of probiotics (e.g., Parabacteroides, Faecalibaculum, and Muribaculum, p < 0.05) and a decrease in harmful bacteria (Colidextribacter, p < 0.05). Moreover, the RD intervention had a noticeable effect on the gene transcription profile of eWAT, and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that differential genes were enriched in PI3K/AKT, AMPK, in glucose-lipid metabolism, and in the regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes signaling pathways. The findings demonstrated that RD not only ameliorated IR, but also remodeled the gut microbiota and modified the transcriptome profile of eWAT. Full article

The anti-digestibility of resistant dextrin (RD) and resistant maltodextrin (RMD) is usually significantly affected by processing techniques, reaction conditions, and starch sources. The objective of this investigation is to elucidate the similarities and differences in the anti-digestive properties of RD and RMD prepared from three different tuber crop starches, namely, potato, cassava, and sweet potato, and to reveal the associated mechanisms. The results show that all RMDs have a microstructure characterized by irregular fragmentation and porous surfaces, no longer maintaining the original crystalline structure of starches. Conversely, RDs preserve the structural morphology of starches, featuring rough surfaces and similar crystalline structures. RDs exhibite hydrolysis rates of approximately 40%, whereas RMDs displaye rates lower than 8%. This disparity can be attributed to the reduction of α-1,4 and α-1,6 bonds and the development of a highly branched spatial structure in RMDs. The indigestible components of the three types of RDs range from 34% to 37%, whereas RMDs vary from 80% to 85%, with potato resistant maltodextrin displaying the highest content (84.96%, p < 0.05). In conclusion, there are significant differences in the processing performances between different tuber crop starches. For the preparation of RMDs, potato starch seems to be superior to sweet potato and cassava starches. These attributes lay the foundation for considering RDs and RMDs as suitable components for liquid beverages, solid dietary fiber supplements, and low glycemic index (low-GI) products. Full article

An environmentally friendly alkaline electrolyte of silicate and borate, which contained the addition of carbohydrates (lactose, starch, and dextrin), was applied to produce micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coatings on AZ31B magnesium alloy surfaces in constant current mode. The effects of the carbohydrates on the performance of the MAO coatings were investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), the salt spray test, potentiodynamic polarization curves, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results show that the carbohydrates effectively inhibited spark discharge, so the anodized growth process, surface morphology, composition, and corrosion resistance of the MAO coatings were strongly dependent on the carbohydrate concentration. This is ascribed to the surface adsorption layer formed on the surface of the magnesium alloy. When the carbohydrate concentration was 10 g/L, smooth, compact, and thick MAO coatings with excellent corrosion resistance on the magnesium alloy were obtained. Full article

NUTRIOSE^® (Roquette, Lestrem, France) is a resistant dextrin with well-established prebiotic effects. This study evaluated the indirect effects of pre-digested NUTRIOSE^® on host immune response and gut barrier integrity. Fecal samples from eight healthy donors were inoculated in a Colon-on-a-plate^® system (ProDigest, Ghent, Belgium) with or without NUTRIOSE^® supplementation. Following 48 h fermentation, colonic suspensions were tested in a Caco-2/THP1-Blue™ co-culture system to determine their effects on gut barrier activity (transepithelial electrical resistance) and immune response following lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Additionally, changes in short-chain fatty acid levels (SCFA) and microbial community composition following a 48 h fermentation in the Colon-on-a-plate^® system were measured. Across all donors, immune-mediated intestinal barrier damage was significantly reduced with NUTRIOSE^®-supplemented colonic suspensions versus blank. Additionally, IL-6 and IL-10 levels were significantly increased, and the level of the neutrophil chemoattractant IL-8 was significantly decreased with NUTRIOSE^®-supplemented colonic suspensions versus blank in the co-culture models following lipopolysaccharide stimulation. These beneficial effects of NUTRIOSE^® supplementation were likely due to increased acetate and propionate levels and the enrichment of SCFA-producing bacteria. NUTRIOSE^® was well fermented by the colonic bacteria of all eight donors and had protective effects on inflammation-induced disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier and strong anti-inflammatory effects. Full article

Background: An inadequate perinatal nutritional environment can alter the maturation of the intestinal barrier and promote long-term pathologies such as metabolic syndrome or chronic intestinal diseases. The intestinal microbiota seems to play a determining role in the development of the intestinal barrier. In the present study, we investigated the impact of consuming an early postnatal prebiotic fiber (PF) on growth, intestinal morphology and the microbiota at weaning in postnatal-growth-restricted mice (PNGR). Methods: Large litters (15 pups/mother) were generated from FVB/NRj mice to induce PNGR at postnatal day 4 (PN4) and compared to control litters (CTRL, 8 pups/mother). PF (a resistant dextrin) or water was orally administered once daily to the pups from PN8 to PN20 (3.5 g/kg/day). Intestinal morphology was evaluated at weaning (PN21) using the ileum and colon. Microbial colonization and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production were investigated using fecal and cecal contents. Results: At weaning, the PNGR mice showed decreased body weight and ileal crypt depth compared to the CTRL. The PNGR microbiota was associated with decreased proportions of the Lachnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae families and the presence of the Akkermansia family and Enterococcus genus compared to the CTRL pups. The propionate concentrations were also increased with PNGR. While PF supplementation did not impact intestinal morphology in the PNGR pups, the proportions of the Bacteroides and Parabacteroides genera were enriched, but the proportion of the Proteobacteria phylum was reduced. In the CTRL pups, the Akkermansia genus (Verrucomicrobiota phylum) was present in the PF-supplemented CTRL pups compared to the water-supplemented ones. Conclusions: PNGR alters intestinal crypt maturation in the ileum at weaning and gut microbiota colonization. Our data support the notion that PF supplementation might improve gut microbiota establishment during the early postnatal period. Full article

The influence of steaming treatment on the soluble dietary fiber (SDF) of sweet potato was investigated. The SDF content increased from 2.21 to 4.04 g/100 g (in dry basis) during 20 min of steaming. The microcosmic morphology of the fractured cell wall indicated the release of SDF components during steaming. The SDF from fresh (SDF-F) and 20 min steamed (SDF-S) sweet potato was characterized. The neutral carbohydrates and uronic acid levels in SDF-S were significantly higher than SDF-F (59.31% versus 46.83%, and 25.36% versus 9.60%, respectively) (p < 0.05). The molecular weight of SDF-S was smaller than SDF-F (5.32 kDa versus 28.79 kDa). The probiotic property was evaluated by four Lactobacillus spp. fermentation in vitro with these SDF as carbon source, using inulin as the references. SDF-F showed the best proliferation effects on the four Lactobacillus spp. in terms of the OD₆₀₀ and pH in cultures, and the highest production of propanoic acid and butyric acid after 24 h fermentation. SDF-S presented higher Lactobacillus proliferation effects, but slight lower propanoic acid and butyric acid production than inulin. It was concluded that 20 min of steaming released SDF with inferior probiotic properties, which might derive from the degraded pectin, cell wall components, and resistant dextrin. Full article