Food Components in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Astaxanthin: a nature's versatile compound utilized for diverse applications and its therapeutic effects

Astaxanthin (ASTX), red-colored xanthophyll, also known as the "king of carotenoids" exhibits a strong antioxidant property that can be naturally found in green algae Haematococcus pluvialis, red yeast Phaffia rhodozyma, and various aquatic species including salmon, krill, trout, and fish eggs. Due to their strong antioxidant qualities, ASTX nanoparticles may be crucial in fighting against phytotoxicity caused by heavy metal ions. Similarly, it may also reduce the uptake of heavy metal, i.e. cadmium, and translocation by improving the morpho-physiological profiles of plants. Furthermore, it can also have the ability to scavenge free radicals, therefore, it can protect plants from reactive oxygen species (ROS). Implementing ASTX nanoparticles on crops can also help to achieve higher food production while minimizing toxic effects. Additionally, it can also possess several therapeutic activities including anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammation, hepatoprotective, and cardiovascular, etc. that can be beneficial to treat various types of diseases in humans and animals. Recently, it has gained more interest in food, agriculture, aquaculture, neutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical industries due to its wide range of applications including food-coloring agents, food supplements, and strong antioxidant property that helps in skin protection, and boosts immune function. However, ASTX possesses poor water solubility and chemical stability so the implementation of ASTX on human health is facing various issues. Therefore, nanoencapsulation of ASTX is very crucial to improve its chemical stability and solubility, ultimately leading to its bioavailability and bioaccessibility. Recently, ASTX has been commercially available with specific dosages in the market mainly in the form of tablets, gels, powders, creams, syrups, etc. The current review mainly highlights the present state of ASTX nanoparticle applications in various fields explaining its natural and synthetic sources, extraction methods, chemical structure, stability, nanoformulations, nano encapsulation, and various commercial aspects.

Amelioration of Type 2 Diabetes Using Four Strains of Lactobacillus Probiotics: Effects on Gut Microbiota Reconstitution-Mediated Regulation of Glucose Homeostasis, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in Mice

This study aims to explore the preventive effects and underlying mechanisms of Lactobacillus fermentum CKCC1858 (CKCC1), L. fermentum CKCC1369 (CKCC2), Lactobacillus plantarum CKCC1312 (CKCC3), and Lactobacillus gasseri CKCC1913 (CKCC4) on high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin (HFD/STZ)-stimulated type 2 diabetes (T2D) in mice. Generally, the results indicated that most of the four probiotics reduced weight loss and liver and pancreas damage, significantly (p < 0.05) improved glucose metabolism by regulating glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), fasting glucose and insulin levels, and increasing expression of glucose transporters. Probiotics improved hyperlipemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress by reducing the secretion of blood lipids and proinflammatory cytokines, increasing antioxidant enzymes. Metagenomic results revealed that probiotics restored gut microbiota via enhancing (reducing) the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (harmful bacteria) and altered specific metabolic pathways in T2D mice. CKCC1, CKCC3, and CKCC4 showed excellent effects compared to CKCC2. These results indicated that probiotics potentially prevented T2D, which is strain-specific.

Mechanism of the antidiabetic action of Nigella sativa and Thymoquinone: a review

Introduction

Long used in traditional medicine, Nigella sativa (NS; Ranunculaceae) has shown significant efficacy as an adjuvant therapy for diabetes mellitus (DM) management by improving glucose tolerance, decreasing hepatic gluconeogenesis, normalizing blood sugar and lipid imbalance, and stimulating insulin secretion from pancreatic cells. In this review, the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties of NS as a herbal diabetes medication are examined in depth, demonstrating how it counteracts oxidative stress and the onset and progression of DM.

Methods

This literature review drew on databases such as Google Scholar and PubMed and various gray literature sources using search terms like the etiology of diabetes, conventional versus herbal therapy, subclinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, physiology, behavior, and clinical outcomes.

Results

The efficiency and safety of NS in diabetes, notably its thymoquinone (TQ) rich volatile oil, have drawn great attention from researchers in recent years; the specific therapeutic dose has eluded determination so far. TQ has anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties but has not proved druggable. DM's intimate link with oxidative stress, makes NS therapy relevant since it is a potent antioxidant that energizes the cell's endogenous arsenal of antioxidant enzymes. NS attenuates insulin resistance, enhances insulin signaling, suppresses cyclooxygenase-2, upregulates insulin-like growth factor-1, and prevents endothelial dysfunction in DM.

Conclusion

The interaction of NS with mainstream drugs, gut microbiota, and probiotics opens new possibilities for innovative therapies. Despite its strong potential to treat DM, NS and TQ must be examined in more inclusive clinical studies targeting underrepresented patient populations.

A Screening of Native (Poly)phenols and Gut-Related Metabolites on 3D HCT116 Spheroids Reveals Gut Health Benefits of a Flavan-3-ol Metabolite

SCOPE

Epidemiological evidence suggests that a reduced risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) is correlated with high consumption of fruits and vegetables, which are major sources of fiber and phytochemicals, such as flavan-3-ols. However, it remains unknown how these phytochemicals and their specific gut-related metabolites may alter cancer cell behavior.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A focused screening using native (poly)phenols and gut microbial metabolites (GMMs) on 3D HCT116 spheroids is carried out using a high-throughput imaging approach. Dose-responses, IC50 , and long-term exposure are calculated for the most promising native (poly)phenols and GMMs. As a result, this research shows that (poly)phenol catabolites may play a key role in preventing cancer propagation. Indeed, µM concentration levels of (4R)-5-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone significantly decrease spheroid size at early stages of spheroid aggregation and gene expression of matrix metalloproteinases.

CONCLUSION

A chronic exposure to (4R)-5-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone may lead to a reduced CRC risk. Daily intake of monomeric, oligomeric, and polymeric flavan-3-ols may increase the colonic concentrations of this metabolite, and, in turn, this compound may act locally interacting with intestinal epithelial cells, precancerous and cancer cells.

Inclusion of phenolic bioactives in high amylose corn starch for gastro-intestinal delivery

Starch is a staple food component with intricate architectures, some of which can be utilized as polysaccharidic delivery vehicles for bioactive compounds. This work describes the use of high amylose corn starch (HACS) to fabricate V-amylose inclusion complexes entrapping capsaicin or curcumin. In line with past studies, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, static laser scattering and scanning electron microscopy help affirm the formation of V6III-type complexes. Such HACS complexes entrap capsaicin and curcumin in structures with higher levels of crystallinity compared to HACS alone (14.61 ± 0.08%, 14.65 ± 0.08% vs. 10.24 ± 0.24%, respectively), high levels of encapsulation efficiency (88.77 ± 5.7% and 66.3 ± 0.99%, respectively) but without significant differences in colloid sizes between the various inclusion complexes (58.25 ± 1.34 μm or 58.98 ± 2.32 μm, respectively). In turn, in vitro gastro-intestinal digestion of HACS complexes with capsaicin or curcumin revealed both, phenolic bioactives significantly (p &lt; 0.05) attenuated the intestinal breakdown of HACS. Interestingly, this attenuated HACS digestibility was accompanied by high gastric retention of the payloads and their sustained release during 2 h of exposure to intestinal conditions. Altogether, this work presents starch-based delivery systems that can entrap phenolic bioactives, release the payload in the intestine and possibly attenuate starch breakdown (because of its increased crystallinity). Thus, this work offers a platform for infusing foods with bioactive phenolics and stall the breakdown of starch.

Changes in the Polyphenolic Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Wheat Bread after Incorporating Quinoa Flour

Quinoa is a trend and a promising functional food ingredient. Following previous research into the impact of incorporating quinoa flour on the polyphenol content and antioxidant activity of bread, this study aimed to bridge an existing gap about the qualitative and quantitative polyphenolic profiles of such bread. The UPLC-MS/MS analysis showed that quinoa bread, made with 25% quinoa flour of a black variety, presented more compounds than refined-wheat bread, and levels were remarkably higher in many cases. Consequently, the quinoa bread presented clearly improved polyphenolic content than the wheat bread (12.8-fold higher considering the sum of extractable and hydrolyzable polyphenols), as supported by greater antioxidant activity (around 3-fold). The predominant compounds in the extractable fraction of quinoa bread were p-hydroxybenzoic acid and quercetin (50- and 64-fold higher than in wheat bread, respectively) and rutin (not detected in wheat bread), while ferulic and sinapic acids were the most abundant compounds in the hydrolyzable fraction (7.6- and 13-fold higher than in wheat bread, respectively). The bread-making impact was estimated, and a different behavior for phenolic acids and flavonoids was observed. Extractable phenolic acids were the compounds that decreased the most; only 2 of 12 compounds were enhanced (p-hydroxybenozoic and rosmarinic acid with increments of 64% and 435%, respectively). Flavonoids were generally less affected, and their concentrations considerably rose after the bread-making process (7 of the 13 compounds were enhanced in the extractable fraction) with especially noticeably increases in some cases; e.g., apigenin (876%), kaempferol (1304%), luteolin (580%) and quercetin (4762%). Increments in some extractable flavonoids might be explained as a consequence of the release of the corresponding hydrolyzable forms. The present study provides new information on the suitability of quinoa-containing bread as a suitable vehicle to enhance polyphenols intake and, hence, the antioxidant activity in daily diets.

Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Phenolic Compounds in Fruit of the Genus Rosa L

We investigated the qualitative and quantitative composition of phenolic compounds in the fruit of Rosa L. cultivars grown in Lithuania. The highest total content of phenolic compounds (50.13 ± 4.17 mg GAE/g, p < 0.05) was determined in fruit samples of Rosa pimpinellifolia L. cultivar “Single Cherry”. The highest levels of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were determined in fruit samples of Rosa rugosa Thunb. cultivars “Dart’s Defender” and “Adam Chodun”. The highest flavonoid content was determined in fruit samples of Rosa multiflora Thunb. cultivar “Nana” and R. multiflora species. The strongest antioxidant activity evaluated by applying DPPH and FRAP assays was determined in fruit extracts of R. pimpinellifolia cultivar “Single Cherry” and R. rugosa cultivar “Adam Chodun”. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds in Rosa L. fruit was performed by applying UHPLC. The following phenolic compounds were identified in fruit samples: caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, quercitrin, (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin, (−)-epicatechin gallate, rutin, phloridzin, and kaempferol-3-O-glycoside. A strong correlation was determined between the total amount of phenolic compounds determined in extracts of the fruit samples of Rosa L. cultivars and the radical scavenging and reducing activity of their extracts in vitro (R = 0.767 and 0.727, respectively, p < 0.05).

A population-based study of health-promoting behaviors and their predictors in Iranian males, 2019

BACKGROUND

Health-promoting lifestyle (HPL) is any measure taken to maintain a person's health. The most important and influential factor in maintaining and enhancing health are health-promoting behaviors (HPB). This study aimed to determine HPB and their predictors among Iranian men.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 783 Iranian men, living in Tehran, were selected, using multistage cluster sampling. The employed questionnaires, namely the sociodemographic questionnaire, Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II), and the second part of the Personal Resource Questionnaire (PRQ 85-Part 2), were completed through interviews. The relationship between the dependent variables (HPLP-II and its subdomains) and independent variables (sociodemographic characteristics and social support) was investigated using the adjusted General Linear Model (GLM).

RESULTS

The mean ± standard deviation of the total HPLP-II score was 2.72 ± 0.44 in the range of 1-4. Among the six dimensions of the HPB, the participants achieved the highest score (3.00 ± 0.52) and lowest score (1.96 ± 0.56) in spiritual growth and physical activity, respectively. The Pearson test showed that the perceived social support was significantly correlated with HPLP-II (r = 0.23; p < 0.001) and all of its subdomains (r = 0.09-0.24; p < 0.001). Based on the adjusted general linear model, social support, age, job, and income adequacy were the predictors of HPL in men and could explain 30.9% of the variance of the HPL score.

CONCLUSIONS

The research findings confirmed the importance of social support and modifying variables (social and personal) in the incidence of HPB in men.

Feed Composition Differences Resulting from Organic and Conventional Farming Practices Affect Physiological Parameters in Wistar Rats-Results from a Factorial, Two-Generation Dietary Intervention Trial

Recent human cohort studies reported positive associations between organic food consumption and a lower incidence of obesity, cancer, and several other diseases. However, there are very few animal and human dietary intervention studies that provide supporting evidence or a mechanistic understanding of these associations. Here we report results from a two-generation, dietary intervention study with male Wistar rats to identify the effects of feeds made from organic and conventional crops on growth, hormonal, and immune system parameters that are known to affect the risk of a number of chronic, non-communicable diseases in animals and humans. A 2 × 2 factorial design was used to separate the effects of contrasting crop protection methods (use or non-use of synthetic chemical pesticides) and fertilizers (mineral nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertilizers vs. manure use) applied in conventional and organic crop production. Conventional, pesticide-based crop protection resulted in significantly lower fiber, polyphenol, flavonoid, and lutein, but higher lipid, aldicarb, and diquat concentrations in animal feeds. Conventional, mineral NPK-based fertilization resulted in significantly lower polyphenol, but higher cadmium and protein concentrations in feeds. Feed composition differences resulting from the use of pesticides and/or mineral NPK-fertilizer had a significant effect on feed intake, weight gain, plasma hormone, and immunoglobulin concentrations, and lymphocyte proliferation in both generations of rats and in the second generation also on the body weight at weaning. Results suggest that relatively small changes in dietary intakes of (a) protein, lipids, and fiber, (b) toxic and/or endocrine-disrupting pesticides and metals, and (c) polyphenols and other antioxidants (resulting from pesticide and/or mineral NPK-fertilizer use) had complex and often interactive effects on endocrine, immune systems and growth parameters in rats. However, the physiological responses to contrasting feed composition/intake profiles differed substantially between the first and second generations of rats. This may indicate epigenetic programming and/or the generation of "adaptive" phenotypes and should be investigated further.

Health promoting properties and sensory characteristics of phytochemicals in berries and leaves of sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides)

Sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides L., SB), as a multi-functional plant, is widely grown in Asia, Europe and Canada. The berries and leaves of SB contain a diverse array of health-supporting phytochemicals, which are also related to the sensory qualities of berry and berry products. This review summarizes the biologically active key-compounds of the berries and leaves of SB, their health-promoting effects, as well as the contributions to the sensory quality of the berries. The target compounds consist of sugars, sugar derivatives, organic acids, phenolic compounds and lipophilic compounds (mainly carotenoids and tocopherols), which play an important role in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions, as well as in metabolic health. In addition, these compounds contribute to the orosensory qualities of SB berries, which are closely related to consumer acceptance and preference of the products. Studies regarding the bioavailability of the compounds and the influence of the processing conditions are also part of this review. Finally, the role of the sensory properties is emphasized in the development of SB products to increase utilization of the berry as a common meal component and to obtain value-added products to support human health.

Risk-benefit in food safety and nutrition - Outcome of the 2019 Parma Summer School

Risk-benefit assessment is the comparison of the risk of a situation to its related benefits, i.e. a comparison of scenarios estimating the overall health impact. The risk-benefit analysis paradigm mirrors the classical risk analysis one: risk-benefit assessment goes hand-in-hand with risk-benefit management and risk-benefit communication. The various health effects associated with food consumption, together with the increasing demand for advice on healthy and safe diets, have led to the development of different research disciplines in food safety and nutrition. In this sense, there is a clear need for a holistic approach, including and comparing all of the relevant health risks and benefits. The risk-benefit assessment of foods is a valuable approach to estimate the overall impact of food on health. It aims to assess together the negative and positive health effects associated with food intake by integrating chemical and microbiological risk assessment with risk and benefit assessment in food safety and nutrition. The 2019 Parma Summer School on risk-benefit in food safety and nutrition had the objective was to provide an opportunity to learn from experts in the field of risk-benefit approach in food safety and nutrition, including theory, case studies, and communication of risk-benefit assessments plus identify challenges for the future. It was evident that whereas tools and approaches have been developed, more and more case studies have been performed which can form an inherent validation of the risk-benefit approach. Executed risk-benefit assessment case studies apply the steps and characteristics developed: a problem formulation (with at least 2 scenarios), a tiered approach until a decision can be made, one common currency to describe both beneficial and adverse effects (DALYs in most instances). It was concluded that risk-benefit assessment in food safety and nutrition is gaining more and more momentum, while also many challenges remain for the future. Risk-benefit is on the verge of really enrolling into the risk assessment and risk analysis paradigm. The interaction between risk-benefit assessors and risk-benefit managers is pivotal in this, as is the interaction with risk-benefit communicators.

Intestinal Organoids: A Tool for Modelling Diet-Microbiome-Host Interactions

Dietary patterns, microbiome dysbiosis, and gut microbial metabolites (GMMs) have a pivotal role in the homeostasis of intestinal epithelial cells and in disease progression, such as that of colorectal cancer (CRC). Although GMMs and microorganisms have crucial roles in many biological activities, models for deciphering diet-microbiome-host relationships are largely limited to animal models. Thus, intestinal organoids (IOs) have provided unprecedented opportunities for the generation of in vitro platforms with the sufficient level of complexity to model physiological and pathological diet-microbiome-host conditions. Overall, IO responses to GMM metabolites and microorganisms can provide new insights into the mechanisms by which those agents may prevent or trigger diseases, significantly extending our knowledge of diet-microbiome-host interactions.

Intake and preference for dried bonito dashi in male Sprague-Dawley rats and C57BL/6 N mice

Dried bonito dashi is a traditional Japanese fish broth that enhances palatability of various dishes due to its specific flavor. The present study examined influences of dietary fat levels (10% vs. 45% fat), presentation order of dried bonito dashi (ascending vs. descending concentrations), and prior experience with dashi on subsequent dashi intake and preference using two-bottle choice tests in two rodent strains, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and C57BL/6 N (B6N) mice. In the ascending concentration tests, SD rats on a low fat diet preferred 10-100% dashi to water, whereas B6N mice showed a blunted preference for dashi. Consumption of a high fat diet reduced dashi preference in SD rats. The B6N mice on the high fat diet never preferred dashi at any concentration. In the descending concentration tests, SD rats on the low fat diet preferred dashi over a wide range (0.03-100% dashi). The B6N mice showed a trend similar to that of SD rats. Ingestion of the high fat diet in both strains reduced dashi preference in the descending concentration tests. However, introduction of the high fat diet to dashi experienced rats maintained on the low fat diet, reduced neither dashi intake nor dashi preference. Dashi intake affected neither high fat diet intake, caloric intake, nor preference for high fat diet. These results suggest that preference for dried bonito dashi is influenced at least by 1) dietary fat levels, 2) presentation order of dashi, and 3) prior experience with dashi.

Relationship Between Oxidative Stress, ER Stress, and Inflammation in Type 2 Diabetes: The Battle Continues

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in which oxidative stress is thought to be a primary cause. Considering that mitochondria are the main source of ROS, we have set out to provide a general overview on how oxidative stress is generated and related to T2D. Enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress occurs in mitochondria as a consequence of an overload of glucose and oxidative phosphorylation. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays an important role in oxidative stress, as it is also a source of ROS. The tight interconnection between both organelles through mitochondrial-associated membranes (MAMs) means that the ROS generated in mitochondria promote ER stress. Therefore, a state of stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are consequences of this vicious cycle. The implication of mitochondria in insulin release and the exposure of pancreatic β-cells to hyperglycemia make them especially susceptible to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. In fact, crosstalk between both mechanisms is related with alterations in glucose homeostasis and can lead to the diabetes-associated insulin-resistance status. In the present review, we discuss the current knowledge of the relationship between oxidative stress, mitochondria, ER stress, inflammation, and lipotoxicity in T2D.

Effect of Incorporating White, Red or Black Quinoa Flours on Free and Bound Polyphenol Content, Antioxidant Activity and Colour of Bread

Interest in quinoa as a functional food ingredient is currently emerging. The flours from white, red and black quinoa seeds were analysed in terms of total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity. They were incorporated at 25% on flour basis into the bread dough formula to evaluate their potential to improve the functional properties of wheat breads. The contribution of extractable polyphenols (soluble forms) and the largely unexplored hydrolysable polyphenols (bound forms that can be found in the residues of the former) were taken into account to reflect a realistic health-promoting potential of breads. The red and black quinoa varieties stood out compared to wheat flour, with about double the polyphenol content and up to 4.7-fold increments in antioxidant activity when considering the sum of extractable and hydrolysable polyphenols. The red and black flours were equally effective in intensifying the antioxidant properties of bread despite the baking process (between 2- and 3-fold). They produced significant changes in the parameters that describe crust and crumb colour (L*, a*, b*). A clear darkening was observed compared to the control bread, an appealing attribute for lovers of unconventional and natural products. According to our results, the flours from the coloured quinoa seeds could be considered interesting antioxidant sources and be applied as natural ingredients in bread-making; new, promising and valuable unconventional products for consumers and producers could be developed.

Dried bonito dashi: Contributions of mineral salts and organic acids to the taste of dashi

Dried bonito dashi is often used in Japanese cuisine with a number of documented positive health effects. Its major taste is thought to be umami, elicited by inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) and L-amino acids. Previously we found that lactic acid, a major component of dried bonito dashi, enhanced the contribution of many of these amino acids to the taste of dried bonito dashi, and reduced the contribution of other amino acids. In addition to amino acids, dried bonito dashi also has a significant mineral salt component. The present study used conditioned taste aversion methods with mice (all had compromised olfactory systems) to compare the taste qualities of dried bonito dashi with four salts (NaCl, KCl, CaCl₂ and MgCl₂), with and without lactic acid or citric acid. A conditioned taste aversion to 25% dried bonitio dashi generalized significantly to NaCl and KCl, with or without 0.9% lactic acid added but not when citric acid was added. Generalization of the CTA to dried bonito dashi was much stronger to the divalent salts, but when either lactic acid or citric acid was added, this aversion was eliminated. These results suggest that these salts contribute to the complex taste of dried bonito dashi and that both organic acids appear able to modify the tastes of divalent salts.

Potential Usefulness of a Wakame/Carob Functional Snack for the Treatment of Several Aspects of Metabolic Syndrome: From In Vitro to In Vivo Studies

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) greatly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of functional snacks containing a combination of wakame (W) and carob pod (CP) flours in reducing markers associated with MetS. The mechanisms of action underlying these effects were also evaluated. In vitro approaches were carried out in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes and RAW 264.7 macrophages treated with different doses of extracts from W, CP, or a combination of both. Furthermore, an in vivo experiment was conducted in rats with MetS treated with normal-caloric diets containing different snack formulations with combinations of 1/50 (snack A) or 1/5 of wakame/carob (snack B). In vitro experiments results indicated that both W and CP had delipidating effects, but only the latter induced anti-inflammatory and anti-hypertensive effects. As far as the in vivo study is concerned, snack B was ineffective and snack A showed an anti-hypertensive effect in rats with MetS. The present study shows for the first time the in vitro efficacy of a W and CP combination as an anti-inflammatory, delipidating, and anti-hypertensive tool, and its potential usefulness in treating MetS.