Underutilized Canadian wild berries as potential sources of lipophilic bioactive compounds with antihypertensive properties.

Traditional berries are small fruits and are widely distributed in the Canadian prairies. The current study investigates the lipophilic bioactive compounds such as fatty acids, phytosterols, and terpenes, and their bioactivities, such as lipid peroxidation, as well as the antihypertensive activities of fourteen underutilized Canadian wild berries. These berries include Saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia), gooseberries (Ribes hirtellum), wild grapes (Vitis riparia), blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum), redcurrants (Ribes rubrum), haskap berries (Lonicera caerulea), wild raspberries (Rubus idaeus), wild blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium), chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa), buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), highbush cranberries (Viburnum trilobum), chokecherries (Prunus virginiana), nannyberries (Viburnum lentago) and snowberries (Symphoricarpos albus). The fatty acids, phytosterols, and terpenes were identified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Lipid peroxidation and the antihypertensive activity assessed by measuring the berries' angiotensin converting enzyme 1 (ACE1) inhibitory activity were determined using in vitro methods. Notably, wild grapes exhibited the highest (p < 0.05) total fat content (7659 ± 312 µg per g DW), followed by haskap berries (4650 ± 184 µg per g DW). Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were highest (p < 0.05) in wild grapes (74%). Predominant phytosterols and terpenes identified in Canadian wild berries included ß-sitosterol, isofucosterol, phytol, and α-amyrin. Saskatoon berries and gooseberries showed a distinct phytosterol and terpene profile compared to the other wild berries. Snowberries demonstrated the highest (p < 0.05) lipid peroxidation and the lowest (p < 0.05) angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE1) activity. This research provides valuable insights into the lipophilic bioactive compounds and their potential activities in vitro of the Canadian wild berries, offering a foundation for further exploration and potential applications in the context of nutraceuticals and functional foods.

Oat protein modulates cholesterol metabolism and improves cardiac systolic function in high fat, high sucrose fed rats.

Oats are recognized to provide many health benefits that are mainly associated with its dietary fibre, ß-glucan. However, the protein derived from oats is largely understudied with respect to its ability to maintain health and attenuate risk factors of chronic diseases. The goal of the current study was to investigate the metabolic effects of oat protein consumption in lieu of casein as the protein source in high fat, high sucrose (HF/HS) fed Wistar rats. Four-week-old rats were divided into three groups and were fed three different experimental diets: a control diet with casein as the protein source, an HF/HS diet with casein, or an HF/HS diet with oat protein for 16 weeks. Heart structure and function were determined by echocardiography. Blood pressure measurements, an oral glucose tolerance test, and markers of cholesterol metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammation, and liver and kidney damage were also performed. Our study results show that incorporation of oat protein in the diet was effective in preserving systolic heart function in HF/HS fed rats. Oat protein significantly reduced serum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Furthermore, oat protein normalized liver HMG-CoAR activity, which, to our knowledge, is the first time this has been reported in the literature. Therefore, our research suggests that oat protein can provide hypocholesterolemic and cardioprotective benefits in a diet-induced model of metabolic syndrome.

Beneficial Effects of Dietary Flaxseed on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a significant cause of chronic liver disease, presents a considerable public health concern. Despite this, there is currently no treatment available. This study aimed to investigate dietary flaxseed in the JCR:LA-corpulent rat strain model of NAFLD. Both obese male and female rats were studied along with their lean counterparts after 12 weeks of ingestion of a control diet, or control diet with flaxseed, or high fat, high sucrose (HFHS), or HFHS plus flaxseed. Obese rats showed higher liver weight and increased levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, and saturated fatty acid, which were further elevated in rats on the HFHS diet. The HFHS diet induced a significant two-fold elevation in the plasma levels of both aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in the obese male and female rats. Including flaxseed in the HFHS diet significantly lowered liver weight, depressed the plasma levels of both enzymes in the obese male rats, and reduced hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride content as well as improving the fatty acid profile. In summary, including flaxseed in the diet of male and female obese rats led to an improved lipid composition in the liver and significantly reduced biomarkers of tissue injury despite consuming a HFHS chow.

A new UHPLC-HRMS metabolomics approach for the rapid and comprehensive analysis of phenolic compounds in blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, cranberry and cherry fruits.

Phenolic compounds are considered an important group of bioactive molecules that are present in abundant quantities in fruits such as berries and cherries; hence, the analysis and quantification of these compounds are of significant interest to the scientific community. The current study aimed to develop a novel analytical method using liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) for the rapid, comprehensive and simultaneous analysis of 66 phenolic compounds optimized for the selected five types of fruits commercially available in Canada. Bioactive compounds that could potentially be metabolite markers for each berry were identified. Various phenolic compounds were identified and quantified in all five selected fruits. Notably, blackberries were rich in anthocyanins such as cyanidin-3-glucoside (368.4 ± 6 µg/g), while blueberries were rich in peonidin-3-glucoside (1083 ± 9 µg/g). In addition, raspberries and cherries contained significant amounts of cyanidin-3-rutinoside, at 3156 ± 36 µg/g and 301.3 ± 2 µg/g, respectively, while cranberries contained the highest concentrations of petunidin at 829.7 ± 3 µg/g. The newly developed and validated UHPLC-HRMS method proved helpful in comprehensively analyzing phenolic compounds in blueberry, raspberry, cranberry, blackberry and cherry. Identifying and quantifying bioactives can lead to applications in neutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries by using phenolic-rich berry extracts in functional foods, supplements, or pharmaceutical products.

Endogenic Phenolic Compounds of Barley as Potential Biomarkers Related to Grain Mycotoxin Production and Cultivar Selection.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is the fourth largest cereal crop in the world. One of the most devastating diseases in barley worldwide is Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe. Several mycotoxins are produced by FHB infection, and deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of them responsible for the deterioration of grain quality. The current limited number of reliable molecular markers makes the development of FHB-resistant cultivars rather difficult and laborious. Moreover, there is a limited number of designed specific biomarkers that could distinguish the FHB resistance and mycotoxin accumulation in barley cultivars. This study investigated the phenolic compounds of ten different Canadian barley cultivars, grown in artificially FHB-infected and non-infected field trials. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assess the presence of DON in the harvested infected grains of each tested variety. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was performed using both infected and non-infected samples. We identified differences among cultivars tested in non-infected samples through quantitative analysis of free and bound phenolic compounds. The resistant cultivars showed higher amounts of major bound phenolic compounds compared to the susceptible check CDC Bold. Additionally, the FHB-infected cultivars produced significantly higher amounts of sinapic acid (SIN) () and catechin (CAT) in the soluble free form of phenolics in barley compared to the non-infected subjects. This study suggests that phenolic compounds in barley could allow barley breeders to precisely identify and develop FHB-resistant barley germplasm and cultivars.

Oat Beta-Glucan Alone and in Combination with Hydrochlorothiazide Lowers High Blood Pressure in Male but Not Female Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Oats are considered a functional food due to the beneficial health effects associated with their consumption and are suitable to be explored for their ability to prevent or manage chronic disease, such as hypertension. Here, we examined the cardiovascular benefits of an oat beta-glucan extract in male and female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) to unravel its sex-specific roles when used with an anti-hypertensive medication, hydrochlorothiazide. Five-week-old male and female SHRs and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were treated with oat beta-glucan and hydrochlorothiazide for 15 weeks. Twenty-week-old male and female SHRs showed high blood pressure (BP), cardiac remodeling, and cardiac dysfunction. These animals also had significantly increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), angiotensin II, and norepinephrine. Treatments with beta-glucan and hydrochlorothiazide were able to differentially prevent high BP, cardiac dysfunction, and alterations in malondialdehyde (MDA), angiotensin II, and norepinephrine in 20-week-old male and female SHRs. To conclude, beta-glucan alone and in combination with hydrochlorothiazide may be a promising a strategy for managing hypertension and related cardiac complications.

Analyses of Fatty Acids, Proteins, Ascorbic Acid, Bioactive Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Canadian Barley Cultivars and Elite Germplasm.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grain is rich in fiber and antioxidant phytochemicals, including fatty acids, proteins, phenolic compounds, vitamins, and minerals, that offer various health benefits. Research on identifying different barley genotypes based on their health attributes is very limited. In this study, we performed an analysis of fatty acids, proteins, ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity of several Canadian barley cultivars and elite breeding lines. Linoleic acid (C18:2) was the predominant fatty acid present in the tested barley cultivars. The cultivar CDC Bold contained the highest amount of ascorbic acid, while the highest protein content was in CDC Mindon. An assessment of the free and bound phenolic compounds of barley grains showed quantitative changes among different genotypes of Canadian barley. Catechin is the most abundant molecule in free phenolics, while ferulic acid and para-coumeric acid are the most abundant in bound phenolics. Ferulic acid and vanillic acid were molecules detected in the soluble free fraction of all genotypes. Para-coumeric acid was detected only in genotypes such as CDC Copeland, CDC Bold, Lowe, and elite breeding Line 5 of both free and bound fractions of barley. Breeding Line 5 had the lowest antioxidant activity. An analysis of the above molecules and parameters of Canadian barley would help to uncover potential biomarkers in order to distinguish individual barley genotypes.

Therapeutic Potential of Select Dietary Compounds in the Management of Hypertension and its Cardiovascular Complications.

Hypertension is a common risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality worldwide. Proper nutrition and diet are known to play an indispensable role in the treatment and management of hypertension. Bioactive compounds that occur in small quantities in foods such as onions, fish and red wine are being intensively studied to uncover their vasoprotective, antioxidant, anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects which are beneficial to attenuate chronic disease and protect human health. In this article, the anti-hypertensive, and cardio-protective effects of five food-derived bioactive compounds: resveratrol, quercetin, coenzyme Q10, DHA and EPA and their proposed mechanisms of action are reviewed in detail.

Health Benefits of Cereal Grain- and Pulse-Derived Proteins.

Pulses and whole grains are considered staple foods that provide a significant amount of calories, fibre and protein, making them key food sources in a nutritionally balanced diet. Additionally, pulses and whole grains contain many bioactive compounds such as dietary fibre, resistant starch, phenolic compounds and mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids that are known to combat chronic disease. Notably, recent research has demonstrated that protein derived from pulse and whole grain sources contains bioactive peptides that also possess disease-fighting properties. Mechanisms of action include inhibition or alteration of enzyme activities, vasodilatation, modulation of lipid metabolism and gut microbiome and oxidative stress reduction. Consumer demand for plant-based proteins has skyrocketed primarily based on the perceived health benefits and lower carbon footprint of consuming foods from plant sources versus animal. Therefore, more research should be invested in discovering the health-promoting effects that pulse and whole grain proteins have to offer.

Effects of blueberry polyphenolic extract on vascular remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Blueberry is considered a functional food due to various beneficial health effects associated with its consumption. Therefore, we examined the cardiovascular benefits of a blueberry polyphenolic extract in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Male SHR and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were administered with blueberry polyphenolic extract for 15 weeks. SHR showed significant augmented media-to-lumen ratio compared to WKY rats and blueberry polyphenolic extract significantly improved media-to-lumen ratio. SHR also had high blood pressure (BP), cardiac remodeling, and diastolic dysfunction and treatment did not affect BP or cardiac structure and function. SHR showed significantly increased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and blueberry polyphenolic extract did not lower MDA. The levels of interleukin 6 and nitrate/nitrite ratio were unaltered in SHR. SHR showed a significant increase in the pro-apoptotic marker, Bax. Blueberry polyphenolic extract significantly lowered Bax. Our study shows that blueberry polyphenolic extract is beneficial in preventing vascular remodeling and cardiac apoptosis. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Similar to many other berries, blueberries are repertoire of many phytochemicals including polyphenols. Along with its considerably well-established role as a sought after berry, blueberries have been at the forefront of approaches to hharnessing health benefits from plant food sources. Several studies have attempted to unravel the role of blueberry and their major phytochemicals in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and reported their beneficial effects. Our pre-clinical study found that blueberry polyphenolic extract can reduce vascular remodeling in the setting of hypertension. This new finding further suggests the potential of blueberry-based phytochemicals. Further exploration of blueberries and their phytochemicals and positive outcomes from such studies can lead to substantial benefits for consumers and economy as a whole.

Genotypic and environmental variations in phenolic acid and avenanthramide content of Canadian oat (Avena sativa).

Phenolic compounds (PC) in oat may possess health promoting properties. This study evaluated the effect of genotype, environment, and their interaction on the phenolic acid and avenanthramide (AVN) concentration in Canadian oat. Six cultivars were grown at eight locations across Canada in a randomised complete block design with three field replicates. Free PCs were extracted from oat groat flour and analysed using a UPLC-PDA system. The cumulative concentration of free PCs and AVN ranged from 58 to 350 and 9 to 244 µg/g, respectively. The effect of environment was significant (p < 0.0001) for the concentration of all PCs. Cultivar differences significantly influenced the concentration of all PCs but AVNs A and B. The growing location explained > 68% of the variation in the concentration of AVN. Thus understanding the genotypic and environmental triggers of individual PCs may help agronomists and breeders strategize in selecting and growing oat cultivars of interest.

Impact of oats in the prevention/management of hypertension.

Oats are a rich source of a soluble fibre, beta-glucan, phenolic compounds, as well as functional lipid and protein components that could potentially aid in preventing and managing hypertension. Processing techniques commonly used to manufacture oat based foods have been shown to improve its physiological efficacy. Hypertension is a common condition that is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, a primary cause of mortality worldwide. Though exercise and pharmacological interventions are often used in the management of hypertension, diet is an incredibly important factor. One preclinical study and a handful of clinical studies have shown that oat components/products are effective in lowering blood pressure. However, research in this area is limited and more studies are needed to elucidate the anti-hypertensive potential of oats.

Potential Associations among Bioactive Molecules, Antioxidant Activity and Resveratrol Production in Vitis vinifera Fruits of North America.

Grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) are rich in bioactive molecules contributing to health benefits. Consumption of grapes is linked to reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Studies on table grape cultivars are limited although much attention in research was focused on the wine industry. Bioactive effects of grapes as anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, cardioprotective, vasorelaxant, phytoestrogenic and neuroprotective have also been reported. For example, resveratrol is a natural food ingredient present in grapes, with high antioxidant potential. Here we conducted an exploratory study to investigate bioactive molecules, antioxidant activity and the association between constitutive stilbene synthase (STS) gene expression and the resveratrol biosynthesis in selected table grape varieties in North America. The phenolic compounds, fatty acid composition and antioxidant activity of four grape varieties were compared. Red Globe variety was rich in unsaturated fatty acids as well as phenolic compounds such as caffeic acid, quercetin and resveratrol. Meanwhile, the constitutive expression of grape stilbene synthase gene was higher in Flame and Autumn Royal where resveratrol content of these cultivars was relatively low compared to the Red Globe variety. This study shows the potential links in grape antioxidant activity and resveratrol production, but more studies are necessary to show the association.

Grape bioactive molecules, and the potential health benefits in reducing the risk of heart diseases.

Grapes are a rich source of bioactive molecules including phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, stilbenes, and lipids. These are the compounds which contribute to the health benefits of grape and grape-derived products. They possess antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic activities and have wide applications in food and nutraceutical industries. Use of grape extracts rich in these bioactive compounds are linked to reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease and its major risk factors including hypertension (high blood pressure); a clinical condition associated with high mortality worldwide. Therefore, considerable attention has been given to grape-based products to alleviate and treat hypertension. The aim of this review is to summarize the bioactive compounds of grapes, composition changes in different grape extracts and the potential benefits in reducing hypertension.

A Comprehensive Analysis of the Efficacy of Resveratrol in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, Myocardial Infarction and Heart Failure.

Atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure (HF) are the main causes of mortality and morbidity around the globe. New therapies are needed to better manage ischemic heart disease and HF as existing strategies are not curative. Resveratrol is a stilbene polyphenolic compound with favorable biological effects that counter chronic diseases. Current evidence suggests that resveratrol is cardioprotective in animal models of atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, and HF. Though clinical studies for resveratrol have been promising, evidence remains inadequate to introduce it to the clinical setting. In this narrative review, we have comprehensively discussed the relevant compelling evidence regarding the efficacy of resveratrol as a new therapeutic agent for the management of atherosclerosis, MI and HF.

Dietary flaxseed reduces Myocardial Ischemic Lesions, improves cardiac function and lowers cholesterol levels despite the presence of severe obesity in JCR:LA-cp Rats.

Previous work has shown that dietary flaxseed can significantly reduce cardiac damage from a coronary artery ligation-induced myocardial infarction. However, this model uses healthy animals and the ligation creates the infarct in an artificial manner. The purpose of this study was to determine if dietary flaxseed can protect the hearts of JCR:LA-cp rats, a model of genetic obesity and metabolic syndrome, from naturally occurring myocardial ischemic lesions. Male and female obese rats were randomized into four groups (n = 8 each) to receive, for 12 weeks, either a) control diet (Con), b) control diet supplemented with 10% ground flaxseed (CFlax), c) a high-fat, high sucrose (HFHS) diet, or d) HFHS supplemented with 10% ground flaxseed (HFlax). Male and female JCR:LA-cp lean rats served as genetic controls and received similar dietary interventions. In male obese rats, serum total cholesterol and LDL-C were significantly lower in CFlax compared to Con.  Obese rats on HFHS exhibited increased myocardial ischemic lesions and diastolic dysfunction regardless of sex. HFlax significantly lowered the frequency of cardiac lesions and improved diastolic function in male and female obese rats compared to HFHS. Blood pressures were similar in obese and lean rats. No aortic atherosclerotic lesions were detectable in any group. Collectively, this study shows that a HFHS diet increased myocardial ischemic lesion frequency and abolished the protective effect of female sex on cardiac function. More importantly, the data demonstrates dietary flaxseed protected against the development of small spontaneous cardiac infarcts despite the ingestion of a HFHS diet and the presence of morbid obesity.

Saskatoon berry supplementation prevents cardiac remodeling without improving renal disease in an animal model of reno-cardiac syndrome.

Saskatoon berry (SKB) may have the potential to counter reno-cardiac syndrome owing to its antioxidant capacity. Here, we investigated the renal and cardiovascular effects of SKB-enriched diet in a rat model of reno-cardiac disease. Two groups of wild-type rats (+/+) and two groups of Hannover Sprague-Dawley (Han:SPRD-Cy/+) rats were given either regular diet or SKB diet (10% w/w total diet) for 8 weeks. Body weight, kidney weight, kidney water content, and left ventricle (LV) weight were measured. Blood pressure (BP) was measured by the tail-cuff method. Echocardiography was performed to assess cardiac structure and function. Serum creatinine and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also measured. Han:SPRD-Cy/+ rats had significantly higher kidney weight, kidney water content, LV weight, BP, and creatinine compared with wild-type rats (+/+). The SKB diet supplementation did not reduce kidney weight, kidney water content, BP, and LV weight in Han:SPRD-Cy/+ rats. The SKB diet also resulted in higher systolic BP in Han:SPRD-Cy/+rats. Han:SPRD-Cy/+rats showed cardiac structural remodeling (higher LV wall thickness) without any cardiac functional abnormalities. Han:SPRD-Cy/+ rats also had significantly higher creatinine whereas the concentration of MDA was not different. The SKB diet supplementation reduced cardiac remodeling and the concentration of MDA without altering the concentration of creatinine in Han:SPRD-Cy/+ rats. In conclusion, Han:SPRD-Cy/+ rats developed significant renal disease, high BP, and cardiac remodeling by 8 weeks without cardiac functional impairment. The SKB diet may be useful in preventing cardiac remodeling and oxidative stress in Han:SPRD-Cy/+rats. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Saskatoon berry (SKB) is widely consumed as fresh fruit or processed fruit items and has significant commercial value. It may offer health benefits due to the presence of bioactives such as anthocyanins. SKB has very good culinary flavors, and it is an economically viable fruit crop in many parts of the world. The disease-modifying benefits of SKB are mainly ascribed to the antioxidant nature of its bioactive content. Polycystic kidney disease is a serious condition that can lead to renal and cardiac abnormalities. Here, we showed that SKB supplementation was able to mitigate cardiac remodeling and lower the level of a marker of oxidative stress in an animal model of reno-cardiac syndrome. Our study suggests that SKB possesses beneficial cardioprotective properties. Further evidence from human studies may help in increasing the consumption of SKB as a functional food.

Comparative and Combinatorial Effects of Resveratrol and Sacubitril/Valsartan alongside Valsartan on Cardiac Remodeling and Dysfunction in MI-Induced Rats.

The development and progression of heart failure (HF) due to myocardial infarction (MI) is a major concern even with current optimal therapy. Resveratrol is a plant polyphenol with cardioprotective properties. Sacubitril/valsartan is known to be beneficial in chronic HF patients. In this study, we investigated the comparative and combinatorial benefits of resveratrol with sacubitril/valsartan alongside an active comparator valsartan in MI-induced male Sprague Dawley rats. MI-induced and sham-operated animals received vehicle, resveratrol, sacubitril/valsartan, valsartan alone or sacubitril/valsartan + resveratrol for 8 weeks. Echocardiography was performed at the endpoint to assess cardiac structure and function. Cardiac oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrosis, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), creatinine and neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin were measured. Treatment with resveratrol, sacubitril/valsartan, valsartan and sacubitril/valsartan + resveratrol significantly prevented left ventricular (LV) dilatation and improved LV ejection fraction in MI-induced rats. All treatments also significantly reduced myocardial tissue oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis, as well as BNP. Treatment with the combination of sacubitril/valsartan and resveratrol did not show additive effects. In conclusion, resveratrol, sacubitril/valsartan, and valsartan significantly prevented cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in MI-induced rats. The reduction in cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in MI-induced rats was mediated by a reduction in cardiac oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis.

The Influence of Diet and Sex on the Gut Microbiota of Lean and Obese JCR:LA-cp Rats.

There is an increased interest in the gut microbiota as it relates to health and obesity. The impact of diet and sex on the gut microbiota in conjunction with obesity also demands extensive systemic investigation. Thus, the influence of sex, diet, and flaxseed supplementation on the gut microbiota was examined in the JCR:LA-cp rat model of genetic obesity. Male and female obese rats were randomized into four groups (n = 8) to receive, for 12 weeks, either (a) control diet (Con), (b) control diet supplemented with 10% ground flaxseed (CFlax), (c) a high-fat, high sucrose (HFHS) diet, or (d) HFHS supplemented with 10% ground flaxseed (HFlax). Male and female JCR:LA-cp lean rats served as genetic controls and received similar dietary interventions. Illumine MiSeq sequencing revealed a richer microbiota in rats fed control diets rather than HFHS diets. Obese female rats had lower alpha-diversity than lean female; however, both sexes of obese and lean JCR rats differed significantly in ß-diversity, as their gut microbiota was composed of different abundances of bacterial types. The feeding of an HFHS diet affected the diversity by increasing the phylum Bacteroidetes and reducing bacterial species from phylum Firmicutes. Fecal short-chain fatty acids such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate-producing bacterial species were correspondingly impacted by the HFHS diet. Flax supplementation improved the gut microbiota by decreasing the abundance of Blautia and Eubacterium dolichum. Collectively, our data show that an HFHS diet results in gut microbiota dysbiosis in a sex-dependent manner. Flaxseed supplementation to the diet had a significant impact on gut microbiota diversity under both flax control and HFHS dietary conditions.

Unexpected challenges for the translation of research on food interventions to applications in the food industry: using flaxseed research as an example.

One of the primary purposes of the studies that life science researchers carry out is to translate their findings into demonstrable impacts in the lives of the general population. If we study the mechanism of heart disease, for example, it is our hope that new therapies or preventative strategies can be created from these mechanistic data. In the field of nutrition, it is the ultimate goal to translate research findings on the health benefits of functional foods and nutraceuticals into products consumed by the public that will benefit their health, improve quality of life, prevent disease, and prolong life. However, the pathway from research on the health benefits of specific foods or food products into industry applications is often a pathway with multiple, unexpected roadblocks for the unsuspecting scientist. The purpose of this article, therefore, is to identify these obstacles that have confronted industry translation in the past by using flaxseed research as an example. The ultimate goal of the review is to alert those in research and in the food industry of these translational hindrances to avoid them in the future and promote a more rapid and effective translation of food/health research into marketing success.