Effects of Dietary Supplementation with a Ferulic Acid-Rich Bioactive Component of Wheat Bran in a Murine Model of Graft-Versus-Host Disease.

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a common and severe complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Its prevention and treatment is a major challenge. Ferulic acid (FA) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that could be attractive in this setting. Our aim was to evaluate a bioactive ingredient derived from wheat bran (WB), selected for its high concentration of FA, in a murine model of GvHD. The ingredient was obtained via a bioprocess involving hydrolysis and spray-drying. GvHD was induced via HSCT between MHC-mismatched mouse strains. FA treatment was administered orally. Survival and disease scores (weight loss, hunching, activity, fur texture, and skin integrity, each scored between 0 and 2 depending on disease severity) were recorded daily, histological evaluation was performed at the end of the experiment, and serum inflammatory cytokines were analyzed on days 9 and 28. Treatment with FA did not protect GvHD mice from death, nor did it diminish GvHD scores. However, histological analysis showed that ulcers with large areas of inflammatory cells, vessels, and keratin were less common in skin samples from FA-treated mice. Areas of intense inflammatory response were also seen in fewer small intestine samples from treated mice. In addition, a slight decrease in INF-γ and TNF-α expression was observed in the serum of treated mice on day 28. The results showed some local effect of the ingredient intervention, but that the dose used may not be sufficient to control or reduce the inflammatory response at the systemic level in mice with GvHD. Higher dosages of FA may have an impact when evaluating the immunomodulatory capabilities of the hydrolyzed WB ingredient. Thus, further experiments and the use of technological strategies that enrich the ingredients in soluble ferulic acid to improve its efficacy in this setting are warranted.

Effect of postruminal supply of linseed oil in dairy cows: 1. Production performance and fate of postruminally available α-linolenic acid.

Triacylglycerols (TAG) are the primary sources of preformed fatty acids (FA) for lipid synthesis in the mammary gland. However, polyunsaturated FA escaping ruminal biohydrogenation are selectively incorporated into cholesterol esters (CE) and phospholipids (PL). The aim of the current experiment was to study the effects of abomasal infusion of increasing amount of linseed oil (L-oil) on plasma distribution of α-linolenic acid (α-LA) and its transfer efficiency into milk fat. Five rumen-fistulated Holstein cows were randomly distributed in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. Abomasal infusion of L-oil (55.9% α-LA) was performed at the rate of 0, 75, 150, 300, and 600 ml/d. Concentrations of α-LA increased quadratically in TAG, PL, and CE; a less steep slope was observed with an inflexion at an infusion rate of 300 ml L-oil per day. The increase in plasma concentration of α-LA was of a lower magnitude in CE as compared with the other two fractions, resulting in a quadratic decrease in relative proportion of this FA circulating as CE. The transfer efficiency into milk fat increased from 0 to 150 ml L-oil infused, and a plateau was maintained thereafter with greater levels of infusion (quadratic response). This pattern resembles the quadratic response of the relative proportion of α-LA circulating as TAG, and the relative concentration of this FA in TAG. Increasing the postruminal supply of α-LA partly overcame the segregation mechanism of absorbed polyunsaturated FA in different plasma lipid classes. Proportionately more α-LA was then esterified as TAG, at the expense of CE, increasing its efficiency of transfer into milk fat. This mechanism appears to be surpassed in its turn when L-oil infusion was increased over 150 ml/d. Nevertheless, the yield of α-LA in milk fat continued to increase, but at a slower rate at the highest levels of infusion.

Effect of postruminal supply of linseed oil in dairy cows: 2. Milk fatty acid profile and oxidative stability.

Our objective was to study the effect of increasing postruminal supply of linseed oil (L-oil), as a source of cis-9, cis-12, cis-15 18:3, on milk fatty acid profile and to assess the resulting impact on the development of volatile degradation products during the storage of homogenized milk. Five Holstein dairy cows fitted with a rumen cannula were randomly distributed in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. Abomasal infusion of L-oil was performed at the rate of 0, 75, 150, 300, and 600 ml/d during periods of 14 d. The concentration of cis-9, cis-12, cis-15 18:3 in milk fat increased linearly with L-oil dose. Concentrations of primary (conjugated diene and triene hydroperoxides) and secondary oxidation products (1-octen-3-one, propanal, hexanal, trans-2 + cis-3-hexenals, cis-4-heptenal, trans-2, cis-6-nonadienal trans-2, trans-4-nonadienal) increased during 11 d of storage at 4°C of homogenized milk under fluorescent light. The magnitude of the increase (difference between final and initial measurements) was linearly greater for all nine lipid oxidation products evaluated in response to increasing level of infusion. Results of the current experiment have shown that milk enriched in cis-9, cis-12, cis-15 18:3 via postruminal supply of L-oil is highly prone to oxidative degradation. This low oxidative stability, exposed under controlled experimental conditions, would represent a major obstacle to those who aim to market milk enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Milk yield and composition in dairy goats fed extruded flaxseed or a high-palmitic acid fat supplement.

We compared the potential of dietary lipid supplements of different fatty acid compositions to affect milk performance when early lactation dairy goats were fed a high-concentrate diet. Thirty Alpine goats at 23 ± 5 d in milk were allocated to 1 of 10 blocks according to parity and milk fat concentration. Within each block, goats were randomly assigned to receive, during a period of 41 d, either CONT) a basal diet with a forage to concentrate ratio of 45:55, used as control, or PALM) the basal diet + 2% of a palmitic acid-enriched fat supplement, or FLAX) the basal diet + 7% of extruded flaxseed. Body weight, dry matter intake and milk yield were not different between treatments. As compared with CONT, goats fed PALM and FLAX had a greater milk fat concentration. Moreover, milk fat yield was numerically (but non-significantly) greater with PALM than with CONT. Milk fat from goats receiving PALM had a greater concentration of 16:0 as compared with CONT and FLAX, whereas a greater concentration of cis-9, cis-12, cis-15 18:3 was observed when goats were fed FLAX as compared with CONT and PALM. Under the conditions of the current experiment, dietary fat supplementation had only minor impacts on the yield of major milk constituents, with the exception of a modest increase in fat yield when goats were fed PALM. The impact of a greater concentration of 16:0 in milk fat of goats receiving this feed ingredient on the nutritive value of dairy products remains to be determined.

Modulation of Fecal Metabolites by Heat Stress and Diet, and Their Association with Inflammation and Leaky Gut Markers in Dairy Cows.

The analysis of fecal metabolite profiles could provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying animal responses to environmental stressors and diet. We aimed to evaluate the effects of a 14-day heat stress period and of dietary mineral and vitamin supplementation under heat stress on fecal metabolite profiles and to investigate their associations with physiological markers of heat stress, leaky gut, and inflammation in lactating dairy cows. Twelve multiparous Holstein cows (42.2 ± 5.6 kg milk/d; 83.4 ± 27.1 DIM) were enrolled in an experiment in a split-plot design. The main plot was the level of dietary vitamin E and Se, as follows: (1) low (L-ESe; 20 IU/kg vitamin E, 0.3 ppm Se) or (2) high (H-ESe 200 IU/kg vitamin E, 1.2 ppm Se). Within each plot, six cows were randomly assigned to either (1) heat stress (HS; Total Humidity Index (THI): 82), (2) pair-feeding in thermoneutrality (TNPF; THI = 64), or (3) HS with vitamin D3 and Ca supplementation (HS+DCa; 1820 IU/kg and 1.5% Ca; THI: 82) in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 14-day periods and 7-day washouts. The concentrations of 94 metabolites were determined in fecal samples, including amino acids, fatty acids, biogenic amines, and vitamins. Relative to the L-ESe group, the H-ESe group increased α-tocopherol by threefold, whereas δ-tocopherol was decreased by 78% (PFDR < 0.01). Nevertheless, correlation analysis between α-tocopherol and all the others fecal metabolites or physiological heat stress measures did not show significant associations. No interactions between main plot and treatments were observed. Relative to TNPF, HS increased plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), plasma lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), milk somatic cell counts (SCC), respiratory rates, rectal temperatures, fecal tridecylic and myristic acids, vitamin B7, and retinol, whereas it decreased fecal amino acids such as histidine, methyl histidine, acetyl ornithine, and arginine (PFDR < 0.05). In contrast, HS+DCa increased fecal methyl histidine concentrations and reduced milk SCC, plasma TNF-α, and LBP, as well as rectal temperatures. Discriminant analysis revealed fecal histidine, taurine, acetyl ornithine, arginine, ß-alanine, ornithine, butyric + iso-butyric acid, plasma non-esterified fatty acids, TNF-α, LBP, C-reactive protein, and milk SCC were predictive of HS. Several metabolites were predictive of HS+DCa, although only tryptophan was discriminant relative to HS. In conclusion, both heat stress and the supplementation of vitamin D3 and Ca can influence the fecal metabolome of dairy cows experiencing heat stress, independently of dietary levels of vitamin E and Se. Our results suggest that some fecal metabolites are well associated with physiological measures of heat stress and may thus provide insights into the gut-level changes taking place under heat stress in dairy cows.

Exploring the potential of common iceplant, seaside arrowgrass and sea fennel as edible halophytic plants.

The recent interest in diversification in food consumption and the current salinization and desertification processes of farmland have placed the focus on halophytic plants as new food, making necessary the characterization of their biochemical composition and the identification of possible bioactive compounds. In this work, three edible halophytic plants were characterized: common iceplant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum), sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum), and seaside arrowgrass (Triglochin maritima). The plants studied were a good source of minerals. Sea fennel showed high contents of dietary fibre and calcium (8.5 ppm, wet weight), common iceplant had a high potassium content (6500 ppm, wet weight), while seaside arrowgrass presented high levels of iron (62 ppm, wet weight). The glucose content of the three species was below 30 mg/g per dried weight. The Sb, Pb, Cr, As, Cd, and Hg content was negligible. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly α-linolenic and linoleic acid, prevailed in the three species analyzed. Hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acids predominated in common iceplant and sea fennel. Glycosylated flavones, especially isoorientin, prevailed in seaside arrowgrass. These plants present a relevant nutritional profile for which their use as foods or ingredients should be promoted.

Effect of Wakame and Carob Pod Snacks on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Snacks combining different functional ingredients could represent a useful therapeutic strategy against NAFLD. The present study aimed to analyze the effect of two snack formulations based on carob and wakame flour in the treatment for NAFLD in rats. For this purpose, metabolic syndrome was induced in 50 adult rats by a high-fat high-fructose diet over eight weeks. After this period, rats were fed either normal calorie diets supplemented or not with snack A (1/50 wakame/carob pod) and snack B (1/5 wakame/carob pod) for four additional weeks. After sacrifice, liver composition and serum parameters were analyzed. Different pathways of triacylglycerol metabolism in liver were studied including fatty acid oxidation, fatty acid synthesis, triglyceride assembly and release, fatty acid uptake and glucose uptake. Oxidative stress was also measured. Snack treatment, and mainly B snack, reduced liver triacylglycerol levels by increasing fat oxidation. Moreover, this snack reduced oxidative stress. Therefore, this snack formulation could represent an interesting tool useful for fatty liver treatment.

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.

Effect of edible chitosan/clove oil films and high-pressure processing on the microbiological shelf life of trout fillets.

BACKGROUND: The inhibitory effect of chitosan films with clove oil (0-50 g kg(-1) ) was evaluated on a range of ten representative food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. RESULTS: The most sensitive bacteria to the films was Shewanella putrefaciens and the most resistant was Aeromonas hydrophila (inhibition was apparent only at 50 g kg(-1) clove essential oil (CEO)). Films with 20 g kg(-1) CEO inhibited nine of ten of the bacteria tested. Chitosan films with 20 g kg(-1) CEO were combined with high-pressure (HPP) processing as treatments for trout fillets, and changes in physicochemical parameters and microbial load were evaluated at 4 °C over 22 days of storage. The films reduced weight loss and water activity compared to fresh and treated samples (HPP and cooking). Results showed that microbial load (total aerobic mesophilic, lactic acid bacteria and total coliform) of the trout fillets covered with chitosan films was lower than that for HPP-treated samples, and similar to cooked samples, except for coliform counts. CONCLUSION: The use of 20 g kg(-1) CEO-chitosan films showed a further improvement in the shelf-life of trout fillets when compared to that obtained with HPP and cooking treatment.

From caffeine to fish waste: amine compounds present in food and drugs and their interactions with primary amine oxidase.

Tissue bound primary amine oxidase (PrAO) and its circulating plasma-soluble form are involved, through their catalytic activity, in important cellular roles, including the adhesion of lymphocytes to endothelial cells during various inflammatory conditions, the regulation of cell growth and maturation, extracellular matrix deposition and maturation and glucose transport. PrAO catalyses the oxidative deamination of several xenobiotics and has been linked to vascular toxicity, due to the generation of cytotoxic aldehydes. In this study, a series of amines and aldehydes contained in food and drugs were tested via a high-throughput assay as potential substrates or inhibitors of bovine plasma PrAO. Although none of the compounds analyzed were found to be substrates for the enzyme, a series of molecules, including caffeine, the antidiabetics phenformin and tolbutamide and the antimicrobial pentamidine, were identified as PrAO inhibitors. Although the inhibition observed was in the millimolar and micromolar range, these data show that further work will be necessary to elucidate whether the interaction of ingested biogenic or xenobiotic amines with PrAO might adversely affect its biological roles.

Optimization of application of delactosed whey permeate treatment to extend the shelf life of fresh-cut tomato using response surface methodology.

Optimization of delactosed whey permeate (DWP) treatment for fresh-cut tomato was accomplished by evaluating different quality, nutritional and microbial markers. Response surface methodology was applied to obtain polynomial model equations. DWP concentration (0-5%) and storage (0-10 days) were used as independent factors in order to optimize the process. The analyses showed that increases in DWP concentration extended the quality of the fresh-cut tomato significantly (p<0.05) by maintaining texture and antioxidant activity (FRAP) and controlling the spoilage during the storage. The total aerobic counts and yeast and molds were reduced by ∼1.5 log cfu/g and ∼1.0 log cfu/g respectively after 10 days of storage treated with 3% DWP. Ascorbic acid and lycopene were retained best within the range of 3 to 5% of DWP treatment. However, concentrations>3% were scored unacceptable by the sensory panel due to perceived off-odors. Predicted models were highly significant (p<0.05) for all the markers studied in fresh-cut tomato with high regression coefficients (R2) ranging from 0.79 to 0.99. The study recommends the use of DWP at a concentration of 3% to extend the shelf life of fresh-cut tomato by preserving its quality and antioxidant properties during storage.

Simultaneous modelling of the thermal degradation kinetics of pectin methylesterase in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and carrot (Daucus carota L.) extracts: analysis of seasonal variation and tissue type.

The thermal degradation kinetics of pectin methylesterase (PME) from carrot and lettuce were studied. Fresh extracts were exposed to temperatures from 55 to 70 degrees C until the enzyme was inactivated. A model based on the presence of two forms of the enzyme, one active and one non-active, is proposed. The natural variability of the PME activity was taken into the model in the form of normally distributed random effects. The common model parameters obtained (cleavage constant (0.0395+/-0.0062 s(-1)), degradation constant (0.556+/-0.112 s(-1)), cleavage energy of activation (469+/-23 kJ mol(-1)) and degradation energy of activation (488+/-18 kJ mol(-1))) show that the PME degradation kinetics of the two vegetables can be explained with a single set of parameters.